
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

o\^' 971 

Cliap.-.r'.... Copyright No» 

Shelf..:M.lP 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



V 



-^ 




D. Mcintosh 



DISEASES OF SWllE. 



WRITTEN AS A TEXT BOOK 



FOR THE 



Veterinary Surgeon, Student and 
Swine Grower. 




• 0^ BY TWO mTTT^HECEIVEO 
D." MCINTOSH, V. S.,' 

Professor of Veterinary Science in the University of Illinois. 
Author of "Diseases of Horses and Cattle." 

^\'\<- 



Copyrig-hted by D. McIntosh, 

1897 



\\ DONOHUE & HENNEBERRY. 



printers and binders, 
Chicago. 



PREFACE, 



• • • • 



DISEASES of the pig" have not been hitherto adequately 
represented in veterinary literature as they should have 
been, especially in this country where the growing of pigs is 
one of the principal industries, represented by hundreds of 
thousands of dollars. I have been surprised that some of my 
professional brethren have not taken up this work, but 1 sup- 
pose that lack of time and opportunity prevented them from 
so doing. Some ten years ago I was urged by some of my 
friends to undertake such work, but having so little literature 
on the subject to cull from, I hesitated to do so, but since com- 
ing to Illinois I have had ample opportunity of investigating 
all the diseases of swine. 

The subjects dealt with are based on science and confirmed 
by experience, so that the reader will not lose time in reading 
theories which are not confirmed by facts. There are a few 
diseases of swine, such as thumps, partial paralysis of the hind 
quarters and canker of the mouth, which will in the majority 
of cases prove fatal. These diseases have been thoroughly in- 
vestigated and the proper remedies discovered, and if adminis- 
tered as set forth in this treatise the majority of the affected 
pigs will recover. I have, with the assistance of Doctor Burrill, 
Professor of Bacteriology in the University of Illinois, investi- 
gated extensively "hog cholera," and have made considerable 
headway in treating the disease successfully. These results 
and treatment will be found in this volume. It also contains 
as an introduction an article on the health of the pig which 
will be of great service to the swine breeder. The book con- 
tains a number of illustrations which will be helpful to the 
reader. My hope is that this manual will fill a long felt want 
to the veterinary surgeon and swine grower. 



INDEX. 



Acne 

Amaurosis 

Anemia 

Angina, gangrenous 

Ani, prola psus 

Anthrax, neclc 

Apoplexy 

Appetite, morbid 

Aphtha, sporadic , 

Aphthous fever 

Arteries, diseases of 

Ascaris Suilla 

Ati'ophy 

Atrophy of the Kidney 

Atrophy of the Liver 

Black Teeth 

Bladder, inflammation of. 

Bleeding Fungus 

Blood with the Urine 

Bowels, inflammation of... 
Bowels, obstructions of... 

Bowels, twisting of 

Brain, inflammation of. 



PAGE. 

152 

. 158 

. 132 

141 

63 

139 

. 130 

43 

27 

137 

129 

84 

126 

. 196 

72 

31 

198 

207 

192 

47 

59 

60 

176 

Brain, inflammation 6f the 

membrane of .. , 176 

Bronchitis 102 

Bruises 206 

Calculi, urinary 202 

Canina, rabies 185 

Canker of the Nose and Face. . 144 

Catarrh, malignant. 97 

Chorea 179 

Chronic Hepatitis 70 

Chronic Inflammation of Nos- 
trils 96 

Chronic Cough 120 

Chronic Lai'yngitis 101 

Chronic Rheumatism 173 

Colic 56 

Congestion of the Lungs 106 

Conjunctivitis 157 

Constipation .. 57 

Corj'za 94 

Cough, nervous 102 

Cysts-Hyatids 73 

Cystitis 198 

Diarrhea , 53 

Difficult Parturition 208 

Diseases of Arteries and Veins. 129 

Diseases of Eyeball liS7 

Diseases of Generative Organs 208 

Diseases of Heart 123 

Diseases of Intestines , 47 

Diseases of Liver of the Pig 69 

Diseases of Nervous System. . . 176 
Diseases of Organs of Mastica- 
tion 28 

Piseases of Respiratory Organs 94 



PAOK. 

Diseases of Stomach of the Pig 34 

Diseases of Urinary Organs 189 

Dysentery 49 

Emphysema 117 

Enteritis 47 

Enuresis 201 

Erysipelas 166 

Erysipel as, gangrenous 140 

Eustrongylus Gigas 89 

Eyeball, diseases of 157 

Face, canker of 144 

Fatty Liver 72 

Feet, sore 155 

Fever, scarlet 160 

Flesh, proud 205 

Functional Diseases of the 

Heart 127 

Fungous Growths 207 

Fungus, bleeding 207 

Gangrenous Angina 141 

Gangrenous Erysipelas 140 

Gangrenous Inflammation of 

the Mouth 30 

Gastritis 36 

General Observations 78 

Generative Organs, diseases of 208 

Gravel 202 

Growths, fungous 207 

Heart, diseases of 123 

Heart, hypertrophy of 126 

Hematuria 192 

Hematuria, idiopathic 193 

Hematemesis 44 

Hemorrhoids 62 

Hemoptyses 121 

Hepatitis 69 

Hepatitis, chronic 70 

Hernia, scrotal 76 

Hernia, umbilical 75 

Hog Cholera 221 

Hydrophobia 185 

Hypertrophy of Liver 71 

Hypertrophy of Heart 126 

Hypertrophy of Kidney 196 

Hydrocele 219 

Idiopathic Hematuria 193 

Idiopathic Tetanus 181 

Incontinence of Urine 201 

Induration 72 

Inflammation of the Brain 176 

Inflammation of Membrane of 

the Brain 176 

Inflammation of Bowels 47 

Inflammation of Bladder 198 

Inflammation of Kidney 190 

Inflammation of Mouth 30 

Inflammation of Nostrils 94 

Inflammation of Testicles,, . . gl8 



PAGE. 

Inflammation of Tongue 29 

Inflammation of Udder 212 

Inflections of the Blood, puru- 
lent 134 

Injuries 206 

Internal Parasites 78 

Intestines, diseases of 47 

Ischuria 195 

Jaundice 73 

Kidney, atrophy of 196 

Kidney, hypertrophy of 196 

Kidney, inflammation of 190 

Kidney, rupture of 197 

Kidney Worm 89 

Lacerated Wounds 204 

Laryngitis 99 

Laryngitis, chronic 101 

Lice 147 

Lichen 149 

Liver of the pig 68 

Liver, diseases of 69 

Liver, fatty 72 

Liver, waxy 72 

Lungs, congestion of 106 

Malignant Catarrh 97 

Mammitis 216 

Man ge . ". 145 

Mastication, organs of, dis- 
eases of 26 ' 

Measles 163 

Meat Brine 38 

Morbid Appetite 43 

Mastication, organs of 21 

Mouth, gangrenous inflamma- 
tion of 30 

Neck Anthrax 139 

Nephritis 190 

Nervous Cough .... 102 

Nervoiis Diseases of tlie Heart. 127 

Nose, canker of 144 

Observations, general 78 

Obstructions of the Bowels 59 

Ophthalmia 157 

Optic Nerve, paralysis of 158 

Orchitis 218 

Organs of Mastication 21 

Organs of Mastication, dis- 
eases of 26 

Oxurus Vernicularis 82 

Palpitation 127 

Paralysis 181 

Paralysis, partial 183 

Parasites, internal 78 

Parturition, difficult 208 

Pemphigus 151 

Pericarditis 123 

Peritonitis 64 

Pharyngritis 99 

Phrenitis 176 

riles 62 

Plethora 131 

Pleurisy 114 

Pneumonia 109 

Prolnpsus Ani 63 

Proud Flesh 205 

Punctu ed Wounds 206 

Pur\ilent Inflections of the 

Bl-.od 134 

Onin-^v 98 

Kibies 185 

Reitum, stricture of the d1 

Respiratory Organs, diseases of 94 



PAGE 

Retention, vesical 200 

Rheumatism 170 

Rheumatism, chronic 173 

Ring Worm 154 

Round Worm 84 

Rupture 75 

Rupture of Kidney 197 

Rupia 152 

Scaly Diseases of the Skin 153 

Scarlet Fever 160 

Sclerostonum Dentatum Dies- 

ing 86 

Scrotal Hei'nia 76 

Scrotum, water in the 219 

Serous Cysts-Hyatids 73 

Simple Ulcers of the Stomach . . 40 

Skin, diseases of 143 

Sore Feet 155 

Sore Teats 217 

Sore Throat 99 

Spiroptera Strongylina Ritd 86 

Sporadic Aphtha 27 

Sprains 174 

Sterility 219 

Stomach of the Pig 32 

Stomach of tlie Pig, diseases of 34 

Stricture of Rectum 01 

Strongylus Dentatum Rud 87 

Strongylus Elognatus 88 

Suppression of Urine 195 

Swine Plague 221 

Ta pe worm 77 

Teats, sore 217 

Teeth, black 31 

Tetanus 181 

Tetanus, idiopathic 181 

Testicles, inflammation of 218 

Thorn Headed Worm 80 

Thread Worm 83 

Throat, sore 99 

Thumps 127 

Tongue, inflammation of 29 

Trecocephalus Dispar 83 

Trichina Spiralis 90 

Twisting of the Bowels 60 

Ulcers 207 

Ulcers of the Stomach, simple . . 40 

Umbilical Hernia 75 

Unhealthy Wounds 205 

Urine, blood with 192 

Urine, incontinence of , 201 

Urine, suppression of 195 

Urinary Calculi 202 

Urinary Organs, diseases of 189 

Urticaria 148 

Uterus, inversion of 215 

Veins, diseases of 129 

Vesical Retention 200 

Vomiting 42 

Warts 148 

Water in the Scrotum 219 

Waxy Liver 72 

Worm, kidney 89 

Worm, long thread 83 

Worm , pin 82 

Worm , ri ng 154 

Worm , round ^^4 

Worm, thorn headed 8' 

Wounds, lacf'rated 201 

Wounds, punctured 200 

Woui.ds, unhealthy ZOo 



DISEASES OF SWINE. 



CHAPTER 1. 
The Organs of Mastication. 



CHAPTER 2. 

Diseases of the Organs of Mastication. 

Sporadic Aphtha, Inflammation of the Tongue, Gangrenous Inflamma- 
tion of "-he Mouth, Black Teeth. 



CHAPTER 3. 
Stomach of the Pig. 



CHAPTER 4. 

JDlSBASES OF THE STOMACH OF THE PiG. 

Gastritis, Meat Brine, Simple Ulcei's of the Stomach, Vomiting, Morbid 
Appetite, Hematemesis. 



CHAPTER 5. 
Diseases op the Intestines. 
Enteritis, Inflammation of the Bowels, Dysentery, Diarrhea, Colic, Con- 
stipation, Obstructions of the Bowels, Twisting- of the Bowels, Stricture of 
the Rectum, Hemorrhoids or Piles, Prolapsus Ani, Peritonitis. 



' CHAPTER 6. 

Diseases of the Liver of the Pig. 

Hepatitis, Chronic Hepatitis, Hypertrophy, Atrophy, Induration, Fatty 
Liver, Waxy Liver, Serous Cysts-Hyatids, Jaundice. 



CHAPTER 7. 
Hernia, Rupture. 
Umbilical Hernia, Scrotal Hernia. 



CHAPTER 8. 

Internal Parasites of the Pig. 

General Observations — Oxyrus Vernicularis (Pin Worm), Thorn Headed 
Worm, Trecocephalus Dispar (Long Thread Worm), Ascaris Suilla (Round 
Worm) Spiroptera Strongylina Rud, Strongylus Dentatum (Rud), Scleroa- 
tonum Dentatum Diesing, Strongylus Elognatus, Kidney Worm Eustron- 
gylus Gigas, Trichina Spiralis. 

CHAPTER 9. 

Diseases of the Respiratory Organs. 

Inflammation of the Nostrils or Coryza, Chronic Inflammation of the Nos- 
trils or Ozena, Malignant Catarrh, Quinsy, Laryngitis, Pharyngitis (Sore 
Throat), Chronic Laryngitis, Nervous Cough, Bronchitis, Congestion of the 
Lungs, Pneumonia, Pleurisj\ Emphysema, Chronic Cough, Hemoptysis. 



CHAPTER 10. 

Diseases of the Heart. 

Pericarditis, Hypertrophy, Atrophy, Functional or Nervous Diseases of 
the Heart, Palpitation or Thumps, 



CHAPTER 11. 
Diseases of the Arteries and Veins. 



CHAPTER 12. 
Apoplexy, Plethora, Anemia. 



CHAPTER 13. 
Purulent Inflections op the Blood. 



CHAPTER 14. 
Anthrax op the Pig. 
Neck Anthrax, Gangrenous Erysipelas, Gangrenous Angina. 

CHAPTER 15. 
Diseases op the Skin. 
Canker of the Nose and Face, Mange, Urticaria, Lichen, Prurigo, Pem- 
phigus, Rupia, Acne, Scaly Diseases of the Skin, Ring Worm, Lice, Warts, 
Sore Feet. 



CHAPTER 16. 

Diseases op the Eyeball. 

Conjunctivitis or Simple Ophthalmia, Amaurosis or Paralysis of the 
Optic Nerve. 

CHAPTER 17. 
Fevers. 
Scarlet Fever, Measles. 



CHAPTER 18. 
Erysipelas. 



CHAPTER 19. 
Rheumatism. 
Chronic Rheumatism, Sprains. 



CHAPTER 20. 
Diseases or the Nervous System. 
Phrenitis (Inflammation of the Brain), Meningitis (Inflammation of the 
Membrane of the Brain), Chorea, Tetanus, Idiopathic Tetanus, Paralysis, 
Partial Paralysis, Hydrophobia, Rabies, Rabies Canina. 



CHAPTER 21. 

Diseases or the Urinary Organs. 

Nephritis (Inflammation of the Kidneys), Hematuria (Blood with the 
Urine), Idiopathic Hematuria, Ischuria (Suppression of Urine), Atrophy of 
the Kidneys, Hypertrophy of the Kidneys, Rupture of the Kidney, Cystitis 
(Inflammation of the Bladder), Vesical Retention, Incontinence of Urine 
(Enuresis), Urinary Calculi (Gravel). 



CHAPTER 22. 
Wounds. 



Unhealthy Wounds, Proud Flesh, Punctured Wounds, Injuries, Lace- 
rated Wounds, Bruises, Ulcers and Fungous Growths, Bleeding Fungus. 



CHAPTER 23. 
Diseases op the Generative Organs. 
Difficult Parturition, Inversion of the Uterus, Mammitis (Inflammation 
of the Udder), Sore Teats, Orchitis Inflammation of the Testicles, Hydrocele 
(Water in the Scrotum), Sterility. 



CHAPTER 24. 
HoG Cholera and Swine PlAqub. 



INTRODUCTION. 



HEALTH OF THE PIG. 

Edmund Park says: "If we had a perfect 
kDowledge of the laws of life and could apply this 
knowledge in a perfect system of hygienic rules, 
disease would be impossible. Hygiene is the art 
of preserving health. It aims at rendering growth 
more perfect, decay less rapid, life more vigorous, 
death more remote.'' So beautiful and compre- 
hensive is this definition that it ought to be often 
repeated. 

In dealing with this subject of health there are 
several things to be taken into consideration ; this 
I will do as briefly as possible. First, we should 
follow nature's steps as closely as practicable, and 
should consider the condition of the pig in its nat- 
ural haunts, and deprive it of as few of them as 
possible. The pig is an omnivorous animal and 
eats all. It is destined by nature to uproot plants 
and grope for food among the dropped acorns and 
other fruits of the forest, and Youatt says: "In 
point of fact the snout of the pig is its spade with 
which it roots in the sjround for roots and earth 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

worms." By putting an iron ring through the 
cartilage of its nose we thus deprive it of the power 
of searching for and analyzing its food, and by do- 
ing so we prevent it from getting substances which 
would be very beneficial for the maintenance of its 
health. To be profitable it is necessary to feed 
pigs more food than they could obtain in a natural 
state, in order to bring them to maturity as fast as 
possible, and this is done at the expense of the an- 
imal's health. Seeing that this has to be done, we 
ought to consider what kind of food is best to ob- 
tain this result and at the same time keep the ani- 
mal in a vigorous condition. Yeo says that if an 
animal is in perfect health the pure alkaline blood 
circulating through the tissues of the body pre- 
vents the germs of disease from finding a suit- 
able place to develop. Let us look for a short time 
at the physiological actions of some of the most 
important organs of the animal body, as we will 
then be better able to understand some of the 
causes of ill health. The stomach of the pig in its 
natural state is small and the intestines have great 
assimilating power. In this capacity the pig is 
ahead of all other animals, which accounts for its 
taking on fat so rapidly. By giving large quanti- 
ties of food the stomach becomes distended, and 
in some cases, weakened so that it cannot digest 
the food properly and it passes out of the stomach 
in this condition into the intestines, where it acts 
as a foreign body, setting up disturbance, derang- 
ing the mucous membrane, leaving it in a conditio u 
favorable for the development of microbes and 



INTRODUCTION. 13 

other germs of disease, the indigested portion will 
pass out as feces. The pig should be fed as much 
during the fattening period as it can digest and 
nothing more. This can be easily ascertained by 
examining the feces. The kidneys secrete the 
urine and other effete material, the result of the 
disintegration of the nitrogenous substances in 
the body; they require to be in a healthy, active 
state to perform this function, or blood poisoning 
is the result; if not blood poisoning, sufficient dis- 
turbance is caused to leave the animal liable to 
disease. The heart should be strong and vigorous 
in order to be able to propel the blood to all the 
tissues of the body to nourish them. The lungs 
should be strong, with large capacity to draw in 
oxvffen and give off carbonic dioxide and other ef- 
fete materials, in this way keeping the blood pure. 
The nerves which govern all parts of the body 
should be strong and active. This is largely ac- 
complished by the kind of food we feed the animal. 
What is the animal body composed of? The 
chemical constituents of the animal body may be 
thus classified: First, albuminous substances, 
characterized by the presence of nitrogen, carbon, 
hydrogen and oxygen. Second, carbo-hydrates 
and hydro-carbons, characterized by the absence 
of nitrogen and the presence of carbon, hydrogen 
and oxygen. Third, salts and water. In order to 
keep all the tissues of the body in healthy action 
and vigor, it is necessary to see that the animal 
gets a food which contains all these elements or 
to give a mixed diet which will combine to furnish 







Red 


Oats, 


Peas. 


Clover. 


13.5 


13.8 


16.7 


11.9 


22.4 


13.4 


5.8 


2.5 


3.2 


57.5 


52.3 


29.9 


8.1 


9.2 


35.8 


2.6 


2.5 


6.2 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

the materials necessary. Food should be com- 
posed of nitrogenous portions called albuminates 
or flesh makers; hydro-carbons, or fat makers; 
carbo-hydrates, which are starch and sugar bodies, 
also fat producers. These are all necessary for 
the healthy development of the animal tissues. 
Let us see which of the various grains contain the 
substances mentioned: 

Corn. 

Water 13.9 

Albumen 10.1 

Fats 4.8 

Carbo-hydrates non-nitrogenous 

extractive matters 66.8 

Cellulose 2.8 

Ash 1.7 

These figures vary considerably, according to 
the ground on which the grains grow, whether it is 
rich or poor, cultivation, etc. The above table 
shows that oats and peas are more evenly balanced 
than corn. They are, therefore, the grains best 
suited for the growth and development of the tis- 
sues of the body, and also to keep them in a healthy 
state. When food substances are deficient in the 
albuminates and salts, the system is generally low- 
ered in tone, and there is a tendency to the forma- 
tion of "exudations,'' composed of imperfectly de- 
veloped cells, which, in the great majority of cases, 
from the very beginning, are incapable of develop- 
ment into perfect entities, having only one poten- 
tial quality, that of dying, and in so doing cause 
various derangements in the body, especially in 
the respiratory organs, producing tuberculosis and 
affections of the glands of the intestines. Oats 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

also contain a nitrogenous alkaloid, called avenin, 
which possesses the property of acting as a nerve 
stimulant It is on this account that horses large- 
ly fed on oats are so spirited. The salts or ash 
that these substances contain are all needed in 
the animal body in order that they will grow, and 
also support the system in older animals. Oats is 
the grain par excellence for the horse, and peas for 
the pig. Corn, alone, has not sufficient albumin- 
ates and salts and has too much starchy substance, 
which is converted into fat, and is therefore a 
grain which is not fit food for a young growing ani- 
mal. It is necessary to feed other materials which 
contain albuminates to supply the deficiency of this 
material in the corn. And I am satisfied that the 
prevalence of cholera among pigs in the corn grow- 
ing States is in a great part due to the feeding of 
too much corn. In Canada, where the pig is 
mostly fed on peas and oats and the refuse of 
wheat and rye, cholera is unknown. It is true 
there have been a few cases of cholera in Canada, 
but it has been mostly on the borders where it was 
supposed to have been brought over the river, and 
some years ago at Montreal, supposed to have 
been caused by feeding on distillery slops. Messrs. 
Lawes and Gilbert made a number of experiments 
on feeding in England and found that pigs fed ex- 
clusively on corn would frequently swell in the 
neck. They did not wish to discontinue the exper- 
iment, and therefore resolved to try the effect of 
putting some mineral substance in a trough 
within the reach of the pigs. They made a mix- 



16 INTRODUCTl0^f. 

tiire of twenty pounds of sifted coal ashes, four 
pounds of common salt and one pound of super- 
phosphate of lime. A trough containing this min- 
eral mixture was put into the pen at the com- 
mencement of the second fortnight, and the pigs 
began to lick it with evident relish. From this 
time the swellings or tumors, as well as the diffi- 
culty in breathing, began to diminish rapidly, and 
at the end of a month had entirely disappeared. 
The three pigs consumed of the mineral mixture 
described above nine pounds during the first fort- 
night, six pounds during the second, and nine 
pounds during the third. This, although only a 
single experiment, shows, I think, that pigs may 
be fed on corn with impunity, providing that a 
compound of this or some other may be put within 
reach of the pigs. I would suggest the following: 
First, that we should avoid in-breeding as much 
as possible, as there is no doubt that it lessens the 
vitality of the offspring, leaving them in a condi- 
tion liable to disease. 

Second, that we select large sows, well devel- 
oped and at least one year old. Third, that the 
boar should be of a smaller breed, compact, and of 
a vigorous constitution. This combination will 
insure strong, healthy offspring. Fourth, that the 
sow and boar should be fed on ground oats and 
bran mixed sufficient to keep them growing, but 
not too fat, as when thev are too fat their vitality 
is lessened. They should have a small field to run 
in, separate, at some distance from each other. 
They should not have rings in their noses, but 



INTRODUCTION. 17 

should be allowed to dig at pleasure, as they will 
find material in the ground useful for their health. 
If they should show signs of getting too fat, cut 
down their feed; on the other hand, if they are los- 
ing flesh, feed a little more. They should have a 
shelter from the sun in summer and a comfortable 
place to sleep in at night in the winter. They 
should have green clover in summer and dry clover 
hay in winter. Give them plenty of fresh water 
and a little salt mixed with their food. Pigs treat- 
ed in this way will seldom have any ailment. 
Fifth, that having strong, healthy, young pigs to 
begin with it is necessary to feed them on mate- 
rials that will keep up vigor and at the same time 
produce rapid growth. This can be accomplished 
by feeding them on ground oats or peas mixed 
with bran, and turning into a clover field if possi- 
ble; if not, clover should be cut and brought to 
them. Milk of all kinds is useful. They should 
have a field to roam in, and after they are old 
enough the boars should be separated from the 
sows. The above food contains all the elements 
necessary for the growth and development of the 
pig. The bran, shell of the oats and the clover 
contain a large percentage of cellulose, and al- 
though the pig cannot digest more than half of 
this material, yet it is very useful, as it contains 
just what is needed to assist in forming the tissues 
of the body. Pigs fed as above will have all parts 
of their body well nourished and in a state of vigor 
to perform all the functions required of them to 
fortify the body against at least ordinary diseases. 



13 INTRODUCTION. 

Sixth, that too many pigs should not be kept to- 
gether, as they are apt to sleep in the same place, 
and although it may be well ventilated, ^or even 
out in the open air, they are apt to breathe some of 
the foul air emanating from their bodies. No 
class of animals thrive well where numbers are 
kept together. When the time arrives to feed the 
hogs for market you will have a splendid founda- 
tion to begin feeding on; strong digestive and as- 
similating organs, which will be able to digest and 
assimilate large quantities of food. Corn can now 
be used with a little ground oats and bran with 
advantage and profit. I think that if this method 
were carried out, in a few years hog cholera would 
be a thing of the past. 

There has not been the same attention paid to 
the treatment of the pig as there has been to that 
of the other domestic aimals. The difficulty in 
administering medicine to the pig and attending 
to the nursing of it is one of the drawbacks. Med- 
icine has been usually given in the food, and when 
the animal is in condition to eat and can be sep- 
arated from the others this method is very con- 
venient; but putting medicine in a food where there 
are a number of hogs feeding together, cannot be 
done satisfactorily. In cases where it is necessary 
to give medicine by the mouth, the patient strug- 
gles so much that it often does more harm than 
good. When medicine has to be given to hogs, it 
is best to give it in the food, if they will eat it If 
there are a number to be treated, each one should 
have its own allowance. W^hen it is necessary to 



Introduction. 19 

give it by the mouth, a piece of rubber hose should 
be put on to the neck of the bottle containing the 
medicine and tied firmly. The hog is to be then 
cast and secured either by being held or by tying. 
Then open the mouth with a piece of wood, intro- 
duce the rubber hose and pour the medicine slowly 
down. This is the safest and best way to adminis- 
ter medicine to swine. 

The doses given in this book are for the adult 
pig. For pigs from six months to nine months, 
two-thirds; from three to six months,one-half; from 
six weeks to three months, one-third, and for pigs 
younger than this the dose should vary from one- 
sixth to one-twelfth. 



-J 



DISEASES OE THE HOG 



CHAPTER I. 
THE ORGANS OF MASTICATION, 




Fia. 138. 
Skull of a Hog— showing the teeth. 

Dentition of the Pig. — It is of great importance 
to have a correct knowledge of the appearance of 
the teeth so that we can determine the age of the 



22 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

animal. All those who are engaged in the man- 
agement of show pigs, or are dealing in them, 
should study this subject. At birth, the young pig 
has eight teeth; four temporary incisors and four 
temporary tushes ; about the tenth day appear the 
second and third temporary molars; at one month, 
four incisors are out, two in the upper and two in 
the lower jaw; about the sixth week, 
the temporary foremost molars are visible; 
at three months, two more are added to each 
jaw; at this period all the milk teeth are in posi- 
tion. Time is then allowed for the jaws and teeth 
to grow, and at six months, in the majority of pigs, 
a small tooth comes up on either side of the lower 
jaw, behind the temporary tushes, between them 
and the molars; and in the upper jaw, directly in 
front of the molars; at six months, the fourth molar 
appears through the gums; at nine months, the 
corner incisors are displaced and permanent ones 
make their appearance. The permanent tushes 
are also cut at this time, and the fifth molar on 
each side of both jaws makes its appearance. At 
one year the middle incisors are replaced by per- 
manent ones, and by this time the tushes are of a 
considerable size; at this period the temporary in- 
cisors are shed and replaced by permanent ones; 
at eighteen months, in most pigs, dentition is com- 
plete, as the lateral incisors and the sixth molar 
are up. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



23 



Fig. 32. 




Prof. Simonds furnishes us with the following 
useful table: 



24 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 





s 

< 


1 Mo. 


3 Mos. 


9 Mos. 


12 Mos. 


18 Mos. 


Foetal in- 
cisors 

Foetal 
tusks .. .. 

Temporary 
incisors .. 

PfeSrmanent 
incisors .. 

Permianent 
tusks . . . 


4 

4 


4 
4 
4 central 


4 

4 

8 central 
and 
lateral 


8 central 
and 
lateral 
4 corner 

4 cutting 


4 lateral 

8 central 
and 
corner 
4 


12 central, 
lateral, 

and 
corner 

4 * 


Total in 
both jaws 


8 


12 


16 


16 


16 


16 



Fig. 165. 






THE TEETH OF THE PIG,- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 25 

The mouth of the hog is large and the habial fis- 
sures extend far back; the upper lip is blended 
with the snout; the canine teeth are well devel- 
oped, especially in the male; the lower tusks are 
long and curved outwards and upwards; the upper 
ones pass downwards and outw^ards, and they con- 
tinue to grow during the life of the animal. 



26 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTEE II. 
DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF MASTICATION. 

Pigs, like other animals, suffer from teeth de- 
rangement, such as malformed teeth growing too 
long or turning inwards on the tongue. Mr. H. 
had a valuable sow which had difficulty in chew- 
ing and swallowing her food; she would chew a 
few times, then attempt to swallow, and the 
greater part of it would drop out of her mouth; 
there was also considerable dribbling of saliva; she 
lost flesh fast, and the owner called me to examine 
her. On opening the mouth, I discovered that the 
third molar tooth had grown long and either 
grown inward or accidentally gotten bent inwards 
and injured the tongue. I removed it with a pair 
of w^olf's tooth forceps and applied a strong solu- 
tion of alum water to the injured tongue and the 
animal improved rapidly. In another case a pig 
was suffering very much and had the symptoms of 
choking, or of having gotten something in its 
throat. The owner poured melted lard down, but 
it did no good. The animal would neither eat nor 
drink, but kept moving around, and at times 
would squeal. It kept on in this condition for 
three days, and as there was considerable saliva 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 27 

dribbling from its mouth, the owner began to fear 
it was mad. I was called to examine it and saw 
from the above s^^mptoms that there must be some 
foreign substance either in its mouth or throat. 
I had the pig tied (it was nine months old) and the 
mouth opened, but could see nothing. I exam- 
ined it several times with the same result, but be- 
ing sure that there must be something there, I 
tried again and this time I saw a small white body 
sticking under the side of the tongue. I removed 
it with a pair of forceps and on examining it found 
it to be a temporary tooth. Both of these cases 
would have died in great suffering if they had not 
been relieved. 

SPORADIC APHTHA. 

This is vesicular eruption of the mouth. Al- 
though the pig is not so subject to diseases of the 
mouth as cattle, yet we occasionally see a case. 
Tlie causes are usually local, such as the animaltak- 
ing some irritating substance into its mouth. The 
symptoms consist of difficult prehension of food, 
the animal will take food into its mouth and let it 
drop out again; there will be a dribbling of saliva, 
and young pigs will squeak On examining the 
mouth, clusters of white vesicles will be seen on the 
cheeks, lips and tongue. Th"e treatment consists 
of dissolving half an ounce of borate of soda in a 
pint of water and applying a little of this to the 
mouth with a small mop. Another good remedy 
is equal parts of honey and vinegar, to which may 



28 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

be added a teaspoonf ul of carbolic acid to the pint, 
to be used as above. If ulcers appear they should 
be touched with a pencil of nitrate of silver, and 
if not better, touched again on the third day with 
the silver. Alum water is also useful, a table- 
spoonful of the alum to a half pint of water. Milk 
or thin oatmeal gruel should be given to the pig 
to drink. 

There is a disease of the mouth known as "Gum 
Mouth," which is a form of Gloss Anthrax. This 
is a constitutional disease, locating itself in the 
mouth; it is accompanied by a low form of fever 
and is contagious. 

Symptoms: A pig affected with this disease 
will refuse food, the eyes w411 be dull, ears lopped, 
saliva dribbling from the mouth, hot, dry nose, 
and the appearance of small pustules on the tongue 
and lips; the tongue will be coated with a fur and 
the edges will be dark-red and raw, and a very foul 
smell will issue from the mouth. These pustules 
break and discharge a very poisonous substance 
which very soon kills the pig. They should be 
cauterized with liquor hydrargyri nitratis, and a 
glass rod used to put it on. The strength should 
be kept up by giving four grains of quinine dis- 
solved in two tablespodnf uls of whisky three times 
a day. Eggs and milk beaten up and a little 
whisky added to aid digestion should also be given 
in small quantities several times a day. The 
mouth should be washed out occasionally with a 
solution of slippery elm bark with a few drops of 
carbolic acid added to it. The pig should be kept 



BlSEASES OP THE HOG. 29 

in a clean, dry place, and given all the cold water 
it will take. 

Glossitis (Inflammation of the Tongue) is a dis- 
ease w^hich may be seen in all our domestic ani- 
mals, and is caused by injuries and by the animal 
getting too hot food or irritating medicines. 

Symptoms: There will be swelling of thv^ 
tongue, the animal will be salivated, and in bad 
cases the tongue will be protruded from the 
mouth; the swelling, if excessive, will cause diffi- 
cult breathing, and if not relieved will cause suf- 
focation; there will be a general derangement cf 
the system; in some cases the epithelium (the, 
scaly covering of the mucous membrane of the 
mouth) may peel off, leaving the parts raw and 
sore. 

Treatment: In the early stages of the disease, 
examine the tongue if possible, sometimes this can- 
not be done on account of the swelling^ if^any for- 
eign body is found remove it and bathe the mouth 
with cold water for half an hour several times a 
day and apply a little of the following lotion witli 
a sponge: acetate of lead one dram and water 
one pint, shake up well and add one dram of tinc- 
ture of opium. Give a purge, such as one to two 
ounces of sulphate of magnesium dissolved in half 
a pint of water, or if this cannot be taken, give a 
pill made of one-fourth of a grain of elaterium and 
one grain of extract of hyoscyamus. Feed on oat- 
meal gruel or eggs and milk. 



jiO DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

GANGRENOUS INFLAMMATION. (GANGRENA ORIS.) 

This is a disease which is usually seen in the 
young, especially those having a white skin. The 
probability is that it depends upon a peculiar mor 
bid condition of the system and only wants some 
exciting cause to bring it out. The teeth seem to 
be in some way connected w^ith it. 

Symptoms: It is not usually noticed in the early 
stages. It begins most commonly by the appear- 
ance of white or ash-colored patches on the gums, 
most frequently below the lower incisor teeth, al- 
though it may occur on any part of the mouth; 
there is usually not much inflammation or swell- 
ing; in some cases where the inside of the cheek is 
the pai-t affected, there may be so much swelling 
that it is observed from the outside, and the an- 
imal seems to suffer considerable pain, especially 
when it tries to eat; the patient often suffers from 
weakness. As the disease advances the slough 
spreads, and the external parts become hard to 
the touch; there will be a flow of saliva and the 
breath becomes fetid. I have seen a case of this 
kind w^here the complaint penetrated the deep 
structures and caused necrosis of the bone (death 
of the bone); the teeth became loose and the pig 
had to be destroyed. In the majority of cases, as 
the disease advances, the animal is unable to take 
food; an exhaustive diarrhea sets in and carries 
off the animal. 

Treatment: In the early stages of the disease 
take sulphate of copper, half a dram to the ounce 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 31 

of water, and apply two or three times daily, so 
as to touch every portion of the diseased surface. 
Tincture chloride of iron, full strength, applied to 
it is also useful. Nitrate of silver, either in solu- 
tion or pencil, is also good. When there is much 
fetor the mouth should be washed with a solution 
of carbolic acid, one to fifty. The little animal 
should be supported by brandy and eggs, one to 
two grains of quinine should also be given twice 
a day. 

BLACK TEETH. 

There has been a great deal said and written on 
this subject, but the great majority of the profes- 
sion at the present day consider that black teeth 
is not a disease, which is capable of causing death. 
I have studied black teeth and have never been 
able to connect it w^ith any of the diseases affect- 
ing the pig, and in the majority of cases it seems 
to do no harm to the animal's health. I have Jio 
doubt, however, that pigs suffer as well as other 
animals from tooth ache, but I have never seen any 
cases where I could detect it. I am not able to ac- 
count for the cause of black teeth unless it be nat- 
ural for some hogs to have them. If it should be 
discovered that a hog has a decayed tooth and is 
apparently suffering from it, by all means have it 
removed, which can easily be done with a pair of 
wolf teeth forceps. I can advise swine breeders 
not to trouble themselves if they should notice 
some of their pigs having discolored teeth. 



32 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTER III. 
STOMACH OF THE PIG. 

Fig 139, Stomach of the Pig Inflated.— A. Car- 
diac portion. B. Its accessory cul-de-sac. C. 
Pyloric portion. D. Lesser curvature. E. Great- 
er curvature. F. Oesophagus. G. Pyloric orifice. 

The stomach of the pig is simple, although it 
takes on somewhat of a compound form, and to a 
certain extent performs the function of carnivora 
and ruminants. It consists of two portions: car- 
diac and pyloric; the latter is the smaller, but the 
divisions are marked externally by a much more 
distinct contraction. At the upper and left portion 
of the cardiac half is a small cul-de-sac. The 
oesoi)hagus is infundibuliform in its termination. 
The mucous membrane, for the most part villous 
(velvety) in its structure, forms two folds, which 
extend from the cardiac towards the pyloric ori- 
fice, representing undeveloped oesophageal pil- 
lars and canal. The gastric juice of the hog con- 
tains the same ferments as are found in the secre- 
tions of other mammals. The secretions from dif- 
ferent portions of the stomach differ; that obtained 
from the greater curvature contains more mucin, 
more acid and more ferment than that from the 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 33 

other portions, while tlie secretions from the oeso- 
phageal portion are free from ferment. It is found 
that the conversion of starch into sugar continues 
in the stomach of the pig, as the food remains alk- 
aline in the cardiac end; but as the food moves on 
and comes in contact with the acid gastric juice 
it ceases. The saliva of the pig is very active, and 
its action continuing after it has reached the stom- 
ach gives the pig very great power of digesting 
starchy food, and on this account the pig takes 
on fat more rapidly than other animals, while be- 
ing fed on cereals, especially corn. It has been 
noted by experiment that flesh takes a much long- 
er time to digest in the stomach of the pig than 
it does in that of carnivora. The pig does not 
masticate vegetable matters as well as herbivor- 
ous animals, so that they are less constituted for 
the extraction of nutritive principles from it; 
therefore, although meat and vegetables are use- 
ful as articles of diet, they are not so profitable for 
feeding purposes as grain. It is claimed that the 
pig is capable of digesting fully fifty per cent of 
cellulose. Figure 140. The intestines in general 
resemble those of the ruminent. The caecum re- 
sembles that of the horse. The intestines are not 
nearly so sensitive and therefore are not nearly so 
liable to disease as those of the horse; they are 
short and the absorbent glands are numerous and 
active. 



34 DISEASES OB^ THE HOa. 



CHAPTER IV. 
DISEASES OF THE STOMACH. 

Indigestion. — The pig, like other animals, suf- 
fers at times from derangement of the stomach. 
If fed for a long time on one kind of food it is likely 
to be affected with indigestion, loss of appetite, 
dullness and loss of flesh, and this condition is fa- 
vorable for the development of worms or ulcera- 
tion of the stomach. It is therefore necessary, in 
order to keep a pig in good health, to give it a 
mixed diet or complete change of food for a few 
da^^s. There are a number of diseases in other 
parts of the body which are caused by a faulty 
digestion, such as diarrhea, vomiting, lung and 
skin diseases and a number of others. 

Symptoms of Indigestion: The appetite is 
usually more or less impaired, and sometimes 
wanting altogether, constituting "anorexia;'' in 
other cases again there is a morbid craving for stuff 
that they would not touch in health; they will come 
up to the trough, take a few mouthfuls, then leave 
off; in some cases the pig w^ill press its nose against 
the ground and ma}^ whine or squeal; sometimes 
it will vomit up a thin, sour-smelling liquid mixe.l 
with a little half masticated food; the bowels may 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 35 

be constipated or there may be diarrhea; in 
chronic cases there is often a cough and the pig 
may suifer from headache, or it may stagger from 
giddiness and even fall over; in young pigs it 
causes fits. The animal in this condition will not 
thrive or grow, but usually loses flesh and some 
times becomes emaciated with wasted muscles 
and a sunken abdomen. The pulse, in some cases, 
is quite natural ; in others it is somewhat increased 
in frequency or is irregular; there may also be 
fever and scanty, high-colored urine. 

The causes of indigestion in the pig are want of 
exercise and too much food, or food of a poor qual- 
ity; hence it results in weakening the stomach. To 
prevent this the pig should be allowed to run at 
large in a field; especially is this the case in the 
young pig, as it requires more exercise than the 
adult. It should be regularly fed on nutritious food 
and not too much of it. 

Treatment: If the pig is constipated give from 
one to two ounces of epsom salts and a teaspoonf ul 
of ginger, dissolved in half a pint of water, at one 
dose. If there is diarrhea give from one to two 
tablespoonfuls of castor oil or from a dessert to a 
table spoonful of tincture of rhubarb. After the 
physic has operated give a teaspoonful each of 
tincture of gentian and ginger at a dose three 
times a day; or if the animal will take a little food 
give from five to ten grains of sulphate of iron and 
a teaspoonful of ground anise at a dose in the food 
twice a day. If the animal is troubled with vomit- 
ing give one to two drops of the wine of ipecac; or 



36 DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

five drops of carbolic acid in a little sweetened 
water will be found useful; ten drops of nitro-muri- 
atic acid in a little water given twice a day is also 
good, 

GASTRITIS (INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.) 

This disease is usually seated in the mucous 
membrane and the sub-mucous areolar or connect- 
ive tissue; but in some severe cases the muscular 
tissue is also involved. 

Acute gastritis is not a common disease in the 
hog, and it is not often seen as an independent af- 
fection, but is more frequently associated with 
some other disease. Wood says: "Few organs 
resist so firmly the ordinary direct causes of ih- 
flammation as the stomach, and few are so readily 
affected through the sj^mpathies.'' 

Causes : Inflammation of the stomach is usuallv 
caused by the pig eating some indigestible food 
which sets up irritation, or by caustic medicines, 
or in some few cases by rheumatism. 

Symptoms ; There will be vomiting, great pain, 
restlessness, the pig moving about almost con- 
stantly from place to place, and occasionally 
squealing; it will refuse food, but may be thirsty; 
the substance thrown up will be, first, the contents 
of the stomach, afterwards, bile or mucus often 
tinged with blood; the end of the nose is dry, and if 
the tongue is examined it will be found to be 
coated with a whitish fur; the bowels are usually 
constipated; the animal breathes fast, and the 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 37 

puljse is full and frequent at first; the skin is dry, 
the urine high colored, and there is sometimes a 
hard, dry cough. As the disease advances these 
symptoms become intensified; debility and rest- 
lessness increase; delirium sometimes takes place, 
or the animal may become partially paralyzed and 
soon sink and die. On the other hand, if the disease 
should take a favorable turn, the vomiting will be- 
come less frequent or cease altogether; the animal 
becomes quiet, lies down and may go to sleep, and 
after a while may be looking for food. In some 
cases of gastritis caused by irritant iDoisons, the 
animal may die in a very short time; but in the 
majority of cases the pig will live for twenty-four 
hours to four or five days. 

Treatment: If possible, find the cause. If it 
should be a strong acid give carbonate of soda or 
lime water; or if nothing else is at hand scrape 
some of the plaster or whitewash off the wall, mix 
it with water and give it as soon as possible. On 
the other hand, if it should be by an alkali, give 
vinegar, then give flaxseed water, barley water, 
or gum arable dissolved in water; of if nothing else 
is on hand give milk. The animal should always 
get from fifteen to twenty-five drops of tincture of 
opium in a little water every hour, or one to two 
grains of powdered opium and a half gram of calo- 
mel. If from indigestible food, give one to two 
ounces of castor oil; follow this with linseed tea 
or gum arable dissolved in water, and the opium 
as before. When the vomiting has lasted for some 
time it ought to be checked if possible, and this 



3S DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

is best done by giving from ten to twenty drops of 
the medicinal solution of j)russic acid in a little 
Avater, or one to two drops of the Avine of ipecac. 
Allow^ the pig all the cold water it will take. After 
the acute stage is over, the i)ig should get a little 
new milk, with a little whisky or brandy in it, sev- 
eral times a day. Care must be taken not to al- 
low the animal to have much food for a week or 
ten days; a little oatmeal made up with boiling- 
water and mixed with milk will be the best food. 
Post Mortem Appearance. — It was at one time 
thought that redness indicated that the stomach 
was inflamed, but mere redness may be present 
after death and the stomach have been health v. 
In cases of true inflammation the mucous mem- 
brane will be very much swollen and congested. 
In some cases I have found swelling so great tha: 
it had completely closed the cardiac opening into 
the oesophagus. In such cases the animals can- 
not swallow, there is considerable infiltration c" 
serum mixed in the tissues, w^hich are usually 
easily broken down and will be either almost black 
or of a yellow tinge. 

MEAT BRINE. 

Salt in moderate quantities promotes digestion 
and the general health of the animal; but when 
taken in too large quantities it deranges the stom- 
ach and bowels, causing the formation of gases, 
diarrhea, vertigo, convulsions and paral^^sis, and 
death in eight to twenty-four hours. It also causes 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 39 

acute inllammatiou of the stomach or bowels, or 
both. I have treated pigs which got too much salt 
brine, causing the above. The mucous membrane 
of the stomach, and in some cases part of the intes- 
tines, were found, after death, highly injected and 
swollen in patches and of a dark-red or a greenish- 
yellow color. Pigs should not be allowed to get 
brine of meat, unless in very small quantities, and 
then it should be boiled. In cases where saltpetre 
has been used in conjunction with the salt in curing 
meat the brine should not be used. The symptoms 
are those of gastritis. Treatment will depend on 
the nature of the case. If seen early and the pig 
has not vomited, mix a tablespoonful of mustard 
in half a pint of hot water and pour it down. If 
the animal does not vomit in fifteen minutes repeat 
the dose. Then give one to two grains of pow- 
,,dered opium in a little sweet oil every two hours 
to relieve tlie pain. The animal will be very 
thirsty and should get water in which barley or 
slippery elm has been put. If there is severe diar- 
rhea add five grains of acetate of lead to the 
opium; if there are convulsions give bromide of 
potassium in two to four dram doses, dissolved in 
water, every two hours. In cases of paralysis give 
a tablespoonful of spirits of nitrous ether mixed 
with half the quantity of aromatic spirits of am- 
monia in a little water every two hours. If there 
should be constipation give from one to two ounces 
of castor oil. 



40 DISEASES OF THE HOG: 

SIMPLE ULCERS OF THE STOMACH. 

I have met wth several cases of ulceratoin of the 
stomach of the pig as an independent disease and 
in conjunction with other diseases, such as hog 
cholera. In one well marked case, a fine sow, 
which had been in a thrift}^ condition until she was 
one year old, w^as noticed to vomit occasionally, 
and seemed to be somewhat uneasy after eating; 
this continued for several months and she began 
to lose flesh; and being a valuable sow I was called 
to see her. By this time some blood was mixed 
with the food in the vomit, and I diagnosed the 
disease to be either ulceration or cancer. I ex- 
amined some of the material vomited, but could 
not get any satisfactory results from it. 

Symptoms: The appetite is variable, in some 
cases it may not be much affected. The animal 
will begin to eat its food with an apparent relish 
and all at once it will stop feeding, leave the 
trough, apparently in pain. It may vomit or seem 
to be trying to do so, something between a cough 
and an effort to vomit, and there may be only eruc- 
tions of gas. The animal soon gets into an un- 
thrifty condition; the bowels are usually confined 
and the urine scanty and high colored; the pulse 
and breathing are not affected in the early stages 
of the disease. If the animal is not relieved it 
gradually becomes worse, vomits up nearly- all its 
food, seems to be in much pain, and the contents 
of the stomach are usually mixed with blood. 
There is no other disease that can be mistaken for 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 41 

this one except inflammation, which is very short 
in its duration, while ulceration may last for near- 
ly a year before it destro^^s life. 

Treatment: There are a number of remedies 
which can be used in the treatment of this disease. 
Subnitrate of bismuth in ten grain doses three 
times a day is very useful; this should be given on 
an empty stomach. Half a grain of nitrate of silver 
and half a grain of opium is a very valuable rem- 
edy; it is best given in pill and should be adminis- 
tered three times a day before feeding. Small 
doses of sulphate of iron are useful. One grain of 
mercury in the form of blue mass and one-sixth of 
a grain of ipecacuanha made into a pill and one 
given three times a day for a week is good. 

Post Mortem Appearance. — The ulcers are usu- 
ally found in patches of various extent and the 
mucous membrane surrounding them is swollen 
and of a dark-red or bluish color. The ulcers are 
of various shapes; some of them are pitted, others 
are filled up with a grayish-brown substance. In 
the majority of cases they are hard to the touch or 
to cut with the knife; sometimes they are soft. A 
number of these ulcers seem to join together, form- 
ing a patch one to two inches long and half an inch 
wide. The root or base of the ulcer usually ex- 
tends through the stomach, forming a hard, bluish 
tumor; and it is said that sometimes they slougli 
out, leaving an opening through the walls of the 
stomach, although I have not seen such a case. 



42 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

VOniTINQ. 

Vomiting is the act of ejecting material from 
the stomach. It is accomplished in two modes. 
Simple vomiting is merely regurgitation or eructa- 
tions effected by contractions of the stomach, 
sometimes assisted by the voluntary contractions 
of the diaphragm. Second form, which is the re- 
sult of the combined actions of the stomach, dia- 
phragm and abdominal muscles. 

Causes: The most common cause of vomiting is 
inflammation or irritation of the stomach. Sub- 
stances in the form of food which are not readily 
digested become sour and irritate the stomach. 
Diseases of the abdnominal viscera are very apt to 
cause it also. There are conditions of the nervous 
system, produced by various causes, which dispose 
to that cerebral action essential to vomiting. In- 
juries to any part of the body which produce shock 
or exhaustion will cause it. Disorders of the brain 
are often accompanied by violent vomiting. Some- 
times pigs may appear well and eat heartily and in 
a few minutes aftervN^ards vomit; this form is 
usually the result of ulcers and can usually be pre- 
vented by putting a few drops of carbolic acid in 
the food, five drops are usually sufficient. 

Treatment : It is obvious that we should find the 
cause, as upon the condition depends the value of 
the remedy. If from eating indigestible food, give 
a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia. If 
from inflammation or irritation, give from one to 
two grains of opium in pill, or from one to two 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 43 

drops of the wine of ipecacuaulia. If it is rejected 
by vomiting before it lias had time to act, mix from 
twenty to sixty drops of tincture of opium in a lit- 
tle thin starch gruel and give as an injection per 
rectum. If this does not stop it give hypodermic- 
ally one-sixth of a grain of morphea in twenty 
drops of pure water. One drop of creosote at a 
dose and repeated if needed is sometimes very use- 
ful. Some place great confidence in chloroform 
in doses of from five to twenty drops. This may 
be tried if the others fail. 

MORBID APPETITE. 

There are two forms of this derangement: first, 
an animal may eat enormous quantities of food 
and still not be fat; second, it may eat unusual sub- 
stances. In the first case the animal should be al- 
lowed only a reasonable quantity of good food for 
several weeks until the stomach becomes accus- 
tomed to it. The second form is usually called de- 
praved appetite (Pica). In this disorder there is a 
desire, w^hich seems to be irresistible, for sub- 
stances w^holly unfit for food. This is often a 
habit, but may be caused by some deranged state 
of the stomach. The desire for earths, lime, stone, 
etc., would indicate that the animal's stomach was 
in an acid condition. 

Treatment: In the first case regulate the food 
so that the animal cannot get too much. The 
stomach and bowels are usually in a weakened 
condition and require toning up, which is best done 



44 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

b}^ giving from five to ten grains of sulphate of 
iron and a dessert spoonful of aniseseed at a dose 
in its food twice a da^^ for a month, and by this 
time the animal will usualh^ be cured. If not, it 
would be wise to kill it, as those morbid feeders 
never do well. In the second, j)ut the animal in 
a place where it cannot get at the material it eats, 
and give it a dose of epsom salts, one to two ounces, 
then give the above tonic. If the animal has been 
in the habit of eating earth, give it bicarbonate of 
soda in its food, one teaspoonful at a dose, com- 
bined with the tonic. 

HEMATEMESIS. 

Bleeding from the stomach is usually attended 
by vomiting of blood, but not always, as the blood 
may have been swallowed, then vomited, without 
any hemorrhage direct from the stomach. It is 
not common in the pig, although 1 have seen a 
few cases. 

Causes: Injuries in the region of the stomach, 
such as a kick from a horse. I have had a case 
from this cause. Hard substances that the ani- 
mal had swallowed, caustic substances introduced 
into the stomach, violent straining in vomiting 
and from inflammation and ulceration. It is also 
produced from diseases of the liver, spleen and 
other organs. 

Symptoms: Hematemesis may be preceded by 
loss of appetite or it may come on suddenly, which 
is the case when it is caused by violence. Hemor- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 45 

rliage may take place in the stomach and pass off 
by way of the bowels, which often happens w^hen 
the quantity is too small to induce vomiting, the 
feces in this case are usually black. When we 
suspect hemorrhage the mouth and nostrils should 
be examined to find their condition. There is no 
difficulty in discriminating^ between hematemesis 
and hemopt^^sis (bleeding from the lungs). In the 
former, the blood is usually dark in color and co- 
agulated and mixed with the contents of the stom- 
ach and is discharged by vomiting. In the latter, 
it is bright red and frothy, never coagulated, fre- 
quently mixed with mucus, and brought up by 
coughing. Death is not the usual result, although 
the disease may be speedily fatal. In one case 
where a pig was kicked by a horse, causing hemat- 
emesis, the pig died in a short time. I made a 
post mortem and found the stomach distended 
with blood. In this case the animal did not vomit. 
So it may be that many cases may take place and 
kill the animal and the cause of death not be 
known. 

Treatment : Acetate of lead from one to two 
grains and opium one to tw^o grains, given at a 
dose and repeated every two hours, is a most effi- 
cient internal remedy. If this should be rejected 
give lime water and milk to quiet the stomach, 
then give fifteen drops oil of turpentine and from 
fifteen to tw^enty-five drops tincture of opium, re- 
peat every two hours; if this should be rejected 
give a teaspoonful of tincture of opium in a little 
gruel as an injection. The fluid extract of ergot 



46 



DISEASES OF THE HO(5. 



of rye in teasj)oonful doses may be tried. If the 
animal is very weak give from one to two teaspoon- 
fuls of aromatic spirits of ammonia in a little cold 
water, repeat every hour if needed. After the 
hemorrhage has ceased feed on milk and eggs with 
two tablespoonfuls of limewater or two or three 
drops of carbolic acid in it. Feed very sparingly 
for a few days. 




FiG.WO. 



Cecum and colon of a hog — inflated, 
bb, Cecum; ccc, Colon; d, Kectum. 



a, Ileum; 



fUSEASES OP THE HOG. M 



CHAPTER V. 
DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 

Enteritis (Inflammation of the Bowels.) En- 
teritis, strictly speaking, means inflammation of 
any part of the bowels, but it is seldom that the 
bowel is inflamed throughout its entire length. 
This is a very fatal disease in all animals, espe- 
cially in the pig. The causes are colds, injuries, 
irritating substances in the food, obstinate con- 
stipation or diai^rhea. It is also caused by drink- 
ing bad water and sometimes is a result of other 
diseases. 

Symptoms: A pig affected by this disease re- 
fuses food, is thirsty, is very restless, has a dull 
appearance and suffers much pain will lie down, 
roll on its side, get up, move around and grunt or 
squeal the mouth is dry and of a purplish color, 
and if the pig has a white skin it will be red in 
patches, especially on the belly; there is a great 
tenderness of the walls of the abdomen and the 
animal will squeal or moan if pressed upon; diar- 
rhea is usually present and the discharge from the 
bowels is apt to be followed by an increase in 
tlie pain; but after a few minutes seems to be 
mitigated somewhat. The discharge may be very 



48 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

frequent and tinged with blood, occasionally it 
is of a dark or green color, being charged witli 
bile; sometimes there is flatulent distention of 
the bowels, the temperature is usually from 104 to 
105 and the pulse at first is full and soft and very 
frequent, from 120 to 150 per minute; as the dis- 
ease advances the i3ulse becomes weak and almost 
imperceptible; the breathing is short and fast and 
the animal may have shivering fits; there is often 
severe vomiting, which is very distressing to the 
patient. This disease in the pig usually lasts from 
three days to one week and is caused most fre- 
quently from mortification and collapse. 

Post mortem appearance: The mucous mem- 
brane is thickened and gangrenous and often there 
will be ulceration, which might lead one to call it 
"Hog Cholera.'^ The ulcers often penetrate the 
walls of the bowel, and if a number of them should 
coalesce under such circumstances a slight force 
of pressure is sufficient to cause rupture, allowing 
the contents of the bowel to pass into the abdom- 
inal cavity. I have frequently seen cases of this 
sort. Sometimes there will be a sloughing of the 
mucous membrane, caused by effusion between it 
and the muscular coat. Cases have occurred in 
which several feet of the mucous membrane had 
become detached. Portions of false membrane 
are occasionally observed adhering to the surface 
of the mucous membrane. 

Treatment: When there is diarrhea present 
give from one to two ounces of castor oil with fif- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 49 

teen to twenty-five drops of tincture of opium in 
it this will clear out the irritating secretions ot 
accumulations and the laudanum will assist in re- 
lieving the pain. If there is constipation epsom 
salts and manna will be found useful. After the 
physic operates give one-fourth of a grain of calo- 
mel and one grain of opium made into a pill three 
times a day. If the fever is high with a strong, 
fast pulse, give one to two or three drops of the 
fluid extract of veratrum viride in a little water 
until the pulse is reduced in force and frequency. 
The pig should get quantities of linseed tea or gum 
arable, which will soothe the irritated membrane. 
If the diarrhea should continue, mercury with 
chalk should be substituted for the calomel. If 
the pain continues very severe, the dose of opium 
should be given larger or oftener. The animal 
should be kept in a dry, comfortable place with 
plenty of straw to lie down on, and solutions of 
arrow-root or sago with milk should be given as 
food to keep up the strength. External treatment 
is not practicable. As soon as it becomes con- 
valescent feed on oatmeal and milk in small quan- 
tities for a week or two. 

DYSENTERY. 

Dysentery is an inflammation of the mucous 
membrane of the large intestine, especially the 
rectum, characterized by severe tenesmus (strain- 
ing) and the passage of small quantities of mucous 
or bloody feces, accompanied by pain. 



50 DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

Causes: Eatiug decayed vegetable matter or 
vegetables not easily digested, putrid animal sub- 
stances and constii^ation ; lying in cold, damp 
places at night is a very common cause; it is also 
caused by a congested state of the portal circula- 
tion and a sluggish condition of the liver, often 
seen in fat pigs, drastic purges, worms, and a se- 
quel of adynamic diseases. A number of pigs on 
the same farm may be attacked at the same time 
without any apparent cause. In such cases it 
must be of a miasmatic nature and often takes on 
a typhoid form. 

Symptoms of acute dysentery : This is not a com- 
mon disease of the pig, although I have seen sev- 
eral outbreaks supposed to have been caused by 
bad water. It is usually preceded or followed by 
general uneasiness, dullness, impaired appetite, 
with stiffness in moving; there is more or less pain, 
as the animal whines; there may be constipation 
or diarrhea, the passages are usually lumpy at 
first, and very frequent; after the first few evacua- 
tions what is passed is of a whitish mucus or 
mucus mixed with blood. As the disease ad- 
vances there will be shreds of the mucous mem- 
brane passed or small masses of coagulated mat- 
ter. There is usually a good deal of flatus passed 
and relief follows for a time. At first the dis- 
charges have little smell, but after a time they 
become very offensive. There is always fever, ex- 
cept in very mild cases. Generally the disease 
takes a turn between the sixth and tenth day and 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 51 

the patient recovers; or sometimes it becomes worse 
at this time, which is indicated by great depression, 
the straining ceases to a certain extent or alto- 
gether, the animal lies down and can hardly be 
induced to rise, the skin is cold, the breathing is 
fast and short and the pulse imperceptible, the 
body may be covered with purple spots and the 
animal will die in a few hours. This disease is 
often taken for "hog cholera. '^ 

Post mortem appearance: In cases of death frqm 
dysentery there are always signs of inflammation 
of the mucous membrane of the rectum and lower 
portion of the colon, although the inflammation 
may extend much farther up, as I have found it in 
the small intestine. The membrane is much 
thickened and of a dark red color, and there are 
usually ulcers. These ulcers may be single or 
confluent. The single ones have abrupt edges and 
are often covered with a concrete exudation and 
somewhat resemble a slough. In some cases co- 
agulated lymph will be found coating almost all 
the membrane; in some cases there will be real 
gangrenous sloughs. Very often in protracted 
cases the liver will either be in a congested state 
or of a dirty gray color, very easily torn, and the 
gall bladder distended with gall. The spleen may 
be enlarged and congested. In the majority of 
cases the lungs appear healthy. The kidneys are 
often congested and there is considerable effusion 
in the abdominal cavity with some peritonitis. 
The lymphatics are usually much enlarged and 
soft. 



52 DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

Treatment: The most efficient remed}' in dys- 
entery is a good physic, as it cleans the bowels and 
thereby we get rid of irritating secretions and 
also diminish congestion of the portal circulation; 
but it is necessary to be careful in selecting ca- 
thartics, as drastic ones may do more harm than 
good. If there has been diarrhea for some time 
it is likely that it has at least removed all feces, 
and a strong purgative will not be necessary, still 
the liver and portal circulation require stimulat- 
ing. It is generally best to give from ten to fifteen 
grains of calomel and follow this in six hours with 
a dose of castor oil, say from one to two ounces, 
or if there should be much fever give instead of the 
oil one to two ounces of epsom salts or the tartrate 
of potassium and soda. The compound powder of 
jalap I have found very useful in from thirty to 
forty grains at a dose. After the physic operates 
give one grain of opium, two grains ipecacuanha 
and two grains of calomel, made into a pill, every 
two hours until the pig is easier or sleepy. Ace- 
tate of lead ten grains, opium one to two grains, 
given three times a day is very useful in some 
cases. In the advanced stages of the disease nitro- 
muriatic acid from five to ten drops, laudanum fif- 
teen to twenty-five drops, given in a little mucilage 
three times a day or oftener if necessary is good. 
Oil of turpentine given in emulsion in from ten to 
twenty drops, and laudanum fifteen to twenty 
drops, given three or four times a day is also good. 
If the animal is very weak give two tablespoon fuis 
ot good whisky with two to four grains of quinine 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 53 

ill it three or four times a day. There are a num- 
ber of other remedies which can be tried, but those 
given above are among the best. Injections are 
sometimes serviceable. Tincture of opium one 
teaspooonful, acetate of lead twenty grains, mixed 
in a little starch gruel and repeated every three 
hours is of service. Give the pig starchy food, 
milk and eggs. There is occasionally a chronic 
form of this disease, but the treatment will be the 
same as second stage of the acute form. 

DIARRHEA. 

When an animal is affected with a discharge of 
liquid feces it is called diarrhea or, scours. This 
affection is rather a consequence of certain patho- 
logical conditions than itself a disease. The con- 
ditions which cause this derangement are various 
and at times even opposite; a simple increase of 
the peristaltic action may produce it without any 
other cause. It is often the result of a great ex- 
citability of the intestines, causing a much strong- 
er impression than they are accustomed to in 
health, or from an increase in the amount, espe- 
cially if it is of a stimulating character, or the in- 
troduction of irritant food or food that undergoes 
fermentation rapidly. It is often the result of 
some effete material in the blood or from increased 
secretion from the liver or pancreas; these sub- 
stances often cause irritation sufficient to cause 
diarrhea. Debility of the mucous membrane may 
allow the elimination of fluids into the bowel^ and 



54 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

have the effect of causing more contraction of the 
muscular coat. Young pigs are very frequently 
attacked by diarrhea from some substance the 
mother has eaten. It is also the result of denti- 
tion. Poverty of the milk given by the sow, im- 
proper food, irregular feeding, cold and damp 
sties, sudden changes of temperature, green food 
given to the sow with litter when they have 
been too long deprived of it, not infrequently cause 
it. 

Symptoms: In simple diarrhea there is a dis- 
charge of liquid feces without any constitutional 
disturbance. The feces may be passed without 
any apparent pain or inconvenience to the animal. 
In other cases the discharges are very frequent 
and painful, which cause the animal much dis- 
tress; this form is usually accompanied with fever, 
quick iDulse, fast breathing and loss of appetite and 
a tucked-up appearance of the abdomen, and the 
animal very soon becomes exhausted. There is a 
form of diarrhea which sometimes will be seen in 
the pig, caused by derangement of the liver, and 
may be of two kinds: first the form which is 
caused by an increase in the secretions of bile; 
the feces are liquid of a bright yellow color, at 
other times they will be green from the action of 
acid in the bowel, and the passage is accompanied 
by severe straining and pain and usually vomiting. 
Second form differs from the first in that the pas- 
sages are black or brown and of a very unhealthy 
appearance and foul-smelling. In these cases 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 55 

the appetite is usually impaired and there is con- 
siderable fever. This form of diarrhea is often 
mistaken for "hog cholera.'' All forms of diar- 
rhea, if not attended to, will soon so reduce the 
pig that it may die. 

Treatment: The treatment of this disease must 
vary according to the nature of the derangement. 
When the complaint simply depends upon increased 
peristaltic action it yields easil}^ to a dose composed 
of fifteen to twenty drops of tincture of opium and 
the same quantity of spirits of camphor in a little 
water, repeated in two hours if not relieved. The 
cause should also be removed if possible. If it is 
caused by change of food or too much food give 
from one to two ounces of castor oil and from one 
to ^\e drops fluid extract of belladonna; after the 
physic operates if the diarrhea is not checked give 
a few doses of opium and camphor usually one 
dose of purgative medicine is enough, as harm is 
often done by purging too much. If the pig has 
been purged for some time before being treated it 
will not do to w^ait the action of the physic, but 
give a dose of astringent medicine as soon as pos- 
sible, such as tincture of catechu one dram, tinc- 
ture of opium twenty to twenty-five drops, give 
this in a little starch gruel and repeat in two hours 
if not checked. If it is caused by bile derangement 
give from two to four grains of calomel and twenty 
grains of rhubarb in a little gruel; follow this with 
small doses, such as one-sixth of a grain each of 
calomel, opium and ipecacuanha in a pill every 
two hours. After the physic has operated if the 



56 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

diarrhea does not stop give opium one grain, tan- 
nic acid ten grains, in gruel repeat in two hours 
if needed. When the diarrhea is accompanied by 
very large watery passages and the pig is weak 
give opium one grain, acetate of lead five grains 
repeat this in two hours if needed. In the chronic 
form of diarrhea tonics and stimulants are called 
for, such as turpentine in from fifteen to twenty 
drop doses three times a day, or sulphuric acid in 
from five to ten drops three times a day. Besides 
this give a teaspoonful each of tincture of gentian 
and ginger in a little water three times daily. Sul- 
phate of iron in from five to ten grains in a little 
food is also useful. Milk diet with two tablespoon- 
fuls of lime water in it is very good. Well boiled 
flour gruel mixed with milk is very fine. For older 
pigs dry, whole grain of any sort will answer. 

COLIC. 

This is not a common disease in the pig, but we 
find a case occasionally. 

Causes : It is caused by changes of food and food 
of an indigestible and fermentative nature, cold, 
lying in wet beds, from constipation and obstruc- 
tions. 

Symptoms: The pain of colic occurs usually in 
paroxysms with an intermission of ease. The pig 
is restless, shifts from place to place, sitting on its 
haunches, twisting its head from side to side, get- 
ting up, lying down, grunting or squealing; if the 
pain is severe the muscles of the abdomen are hard 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 57 

and may be rigid; pressure on the abdomen will 
ease the pain and the pig will sometimes lie flat on 
its belly for a few minutes. The pain often abates 
suddenly or it may last for hours, although it usu- 
ally yields to proper treatment If possible find 
the cause. If it is from constipation give a dose 
of castor oil and from fifteen to twenty-five drops 
of tincture of opium in it. If the pain is very se- 
vere give twenty-five drops of the essence of pep- 
permint or spearmint dropped on sugar, or a tea- 
cupful of effusion of ginger or from one to three 
teaspoonf uls of the compound tincture of lavender. 
One to two teaspoonfuls of the camphorated tinc- 
ture of opium will usually be still more efficient; 
any of the above should be repeated at intervals of 
from one to two hours. If it should be very per- 
sistent give one-fourth of a grain of morphine hy- 
podermically. After the acute pain has subsided 
give the pig a dose of epsom salts to clean out the 
bowels. 

CONSTIPATION. 

This term is applied to a condition of the bowels 
in which the passages of feces are less frequent 
and of smaller quantities than normal. If this 
condition of things lasts for a time it will impair 
the health. 

Causes: Sows and young pigs that have been too 
highly fed are often troubled by constipation. Pigs 
which are confined in houses are often the victims 
of constipation, as exercise is needful for the prop- 



58 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

er performance of the functions of the intestines. 
Food that does not stimulate the bowels to con- 
traction, torpidity of the nerves of the intestines, 
and scant secretions. Obstructions to the bowels 
and mechanical impediments will be described un- 
der the head of obstructions. 

Symptoms: The animal is uneasy, moves about, 
strains and may pass a small quantity of hard 
feces, there will be distention of the anus, the lump 
will frequently be covered with white or bloody 
mucus. If the accumulation should be up the 
bowel the animal may pass only mucus or bloody 
mucus, which might be mistaken for dysentery. 
In a short time if not relieved the animal becomes 
dull, the appetite will be impaired, and in some 
cases vomiting will occur, with severe sickness, 
which may end in death in a few days. 

Effects: Constipation, besides causing irrita- 
tion, inflammation, distention, ulceration, gan- 
grene and piles, deranges the neighboring organs 
by the pressure of the accumulated feces. It im- 
pedes the circulation, causing congestion of the va- 
rious organs and affecting the heart, brain, liver 
and skin. A great number of skin diseases are the 
result of constipation. 

Treatment: Give from one to two ounces of cas- 
tor oil this is a useful purge, being mild, sure and 
quick in its action. Sulphate of magnesia and 
other salines, on account of their causing a great 
increase in the secretions, are very efficient when 
there is an accumulation of hardened feces. Senna 
tea combined with salts increases their activity. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 59 

Cases may occur in which a drastic purge will be 
necessary; in such cases give from two to three 
drops of croton oil in a little castor oil or sweet 
oil. There are a number of other purgatives which 
are useful. The compound cathartic pill is very 
good, dose one to two pills. Injections of soap 
and warm water should not be neglected. After 
an attack of constipation the bowel is more or 
less weakened and the animal should have a stim- 
ulating tonic, such as five to ten grains of sulphate 
of iron and two to three grains of nux vomica at 
a dose three times a day in its food for a week. 
Young pigs fed on skimmed milk should have a lit- 
tle boiled flaxseed mixed in it, it is very nutritious 
and will prevent constipation. It is also good for 
grown pigs. A teaspoonful of white mustard seed 
and a little hardwood charcoal is a preventive. 

OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE BOWELS. 

This term is applied when some mechanical im- 
pediment obstructs the passage of the feces. 

Causes: An accumulation of hard, impacted 
feces, the accumulation of hard substances such as 
coal cinders. I have met with several cases of this 
kind in which a farmer had lost a pig and had an 
idea that it might be ^^hog cholera.'' On post mor- 
tem I found a portion of the ileum near its entrance 
into the cecum filled with cinders and that portion 
of the bowel swollen and black, and I have no 
doubt but that hundreds of pigs die from this 
cause. Solid concretions sometimes form in the 
bowel. There are also strictures which take place^ 



60 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

tumors, and in some cases organized bands across 
the bowel, originating likely from the process of 
inflammatory adhesions of the surface of the mu- 
cous membrane in consequence of the exudation 
of coagulated lymph and a subsequent separation 
of these surfaces, before the lymph has become 
quite consolidated, so that it is drawn out in ap- 
parently interlacing cords. Twisting of the bowel 
is still another cause of obstruction, invagination 
of the bowel is a frequent cause, strangulation by 
the passing of a portion of the bowel through a 
rent in the diaphragm, mesentery, etc. 

Symptoms of obstructions : It may come on sud- 
denly, and in such cases there is great restlessness, 
vomiting, straining to pass feces, with the effect 
that the abdomen will swell and the animal show 
all signs of inflammation and soon die. In other 
cases it comes on slowly, the animal strains but 
cannot pass feces; this continues in spite of purga- 
tives and gradually goes on until the pig dies in 
great agony. 

Treatment: Find the cause if possible but this 
is usually not easily done in the pig. First give 
a dose of castor oil and if this takes no effect give 
salts and senna or two ounces of castor oil and 
three drops of croton oil. When the pain is severe 
give one grain of opium at a dose every two hours 
or one grain of opium and half a grain of calomel 
every two hours. Injections of soap and warm 
water should be given every hour. If the vomit- 
ing is severe give a drop or two of wine of ipecac. 
Physostigmine in doses of one-tenth of a grain and 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 61 

a sixth of a grain of pilocarpine dissolved in a little 
warm water and administered lijpodermically will 
sometimes overcome obstructions. Coal cinders 
should never be given to pigs. Charcoal and wood 
ashes are safe, or better still, twenty pounds of 
sifted coal ashes, six pounds common salt and one 
pound superphosphate of lime, mix these well to- 
gether and put into a trough in a convenient place 
so that the pigs can get at it when they want it. 

STRICTURE OF THE RECTUH. 

When there is great straining and difficulty in 
evacuation stricture of the bowel may be suspect- 
ed, and it is only after an examination that the 
cause is found. There are several things which 
may happen to the bowel which would prevent 
wholly or partially the evacuation of the feces. 
First, thickening or other organic derangements of 
the coats of the bowel; second, prolapsus of the 
rectum; third, hard tumors and spasmodic stric- 
ture. 

Symptoms: This affection is usually consider- 
ably advanced before it is noticed, when there will 
usually be constipation, with severe and painful 
efforts to evacuate, and nothing but a small quan- 
tity of mucus will pass. When these symptoms 
are present no time should be lost in ascertaining 
the nature of the derangement. The finger should 
be oiled and introduced; if the cause is beyond the 
reach of the fingers a bougie should be used. W^hen 
it is discovered what the ailment is it should be 



62 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

removed if possible; if this cannot be done the 
animal should be destroj^ed. If it is from thicken- 
ing of the coats, and not too far up, the bowel 
should be dilated and the enlarged part rubbed 
with a strong tincture of iodine twice a week. If 
it should be a tumor either hard (scirrhus), 
soft, or polypus, it will have to be removed by 
the knife or ligature. It is a dangerous operation, 
but it is a case of life or death and ought to be 
tried. Spasmodic stricture is best overcome by 
the local use of the fluid extract of belladonna and 
tincture of opium applied to the inside of the rec- 
tum once or twice a day. The pig should have a 
dose of physic, epsom salts is the best, and the 
feces kept soft by feeding on laxative food. 

HEflORRHOIDS OR PILES. 

This is a term applied to soft tumors which are 
easily made bleed; these tumors are found in or 
about the anus. In cases where there is no bleed- 
ing the affection is called "blind piles." The tu- 
mors are also divided into internal, those which 
are within the anus, and external, those which are 
without the sphincter. Hemorrhoidal tumors dif- 
fer in character; some are simple and consist of 
varicose veins in clusters, forming something of a 
tumor; these tumors are filled with liquid blood 
and can be easily squeezed out; the others are 
harder and contain coagulated blood; there is 
more or less inflammation present and conse- 
Cjuently an exudation of lymph in the contiguous 
parts and a soft, spongy tumor is usually the result. 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 63 

This derangement causes the animal great annoy- 
ance and at times more or less fever, loss of appe- 
tite and a falling off in flesh. 

Treatment: The pig should get aloes, ten to 
fifteen grains, calomel, six to eight grains when 
this operates it will relieve the congestion and 
often cure. If not, open the tumor and squeeze 
out the blood and dress the part with a mixture of 
twenty grains of tannic acid, one ounce glycerine 
and one ounce water a little of this should be ap- 
plied twice a day. Fifteen to twenty drops of 
turpentine at a dose twice a day is very useful bal- 
sam of copaiba in twenty to thirty drops once or 
twice a day is also good. Cold water injected sev- 
eral times a day relieves the inflammation, or a 
teaspoonful of cold w^ater injected several times a 
day will be found beneficial. The animal should 
be fed on laxative food, compound liquorice 
powder is an excellent laxative in doses of thirty 
to forty grains once a day. There are a number of 
other remedies which are useful, but the above are 
among the best. 

PROLAPSUS ANl. 

This derangement is frequently met with in the 
pig. It is a protrusion of a part of the rectum 
caused by weakness of the muscles of the bowels 
and is often the result of either constipation or se- 
vere diarrhea and dysentery or whatever causes se- 
vere straining. It is usually the mucous membrane 
which protrudes. If it remains out for some time 
it swells and becomes of a dark color. Although 



64 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

it may have been pr'otruded for several days it can 
be reduced and the animal recover. 

Treatment: Bathe the protruded part for ten 
minutes with warm water to clean it, then bathe 
for ten minutes more with a mixture of two drams 
of acetate of lead, one ounce tincture of opium 
and one pint of water, then turn the pig on its back 
and push in the bowel, give two grains of opium to 
relieve the straining. It may be necessary in some 
cases to put in a stitch of catgut or silk thread 
across the opening to keep it from slipping out. 
The pig should have laxative food such as oatmeal 
gruel and if constipated give a dose of castor oil, 
this to be followed by from two to three drops of 
the fluid extract of nux vomica three times a day in 
the food. If it should be impossible to keep it in and 
the parts become mortified, remove it with a knife 
and if necessary stitch the bowel to the margin of 
the anus with catgut or silk some cases of this 
sort do well. 

PERITONITIS (INFLAMMATION OF THE PERITONEUn.) 

Peritonitis is an inflammation of the membrane 
lining the cavity of the abdomen, also reflected 
over the bowels. 

Cause: Chills, operations, especially after the 
operation of castration, injuries such as kicks or 
blows from horses and the result of difficult par- 
turition. The disease is an ordinary result of 
strauo'ulation of the bowels. It is also caused by 
foreign bodies penetrating through the walls of 
the intestine 



mSEAgEg OF THE HOG. 65 

Peritonitis sometimes comes on in the course of 
other diseases, particuhirly hog cholera, which it 
brings to a rapid, fatal issue. 

Symptoms: The disease is ushered in with a 
chill, there is great pain, the animal moves about 
in a very stiff manner and suffers intense pain, the 
abdomen is very tender to the touch and althougli 
it might be slight it will make the animal squeal. 
The muscles of the abdomen are contracted which 
gives the animal a tucked up appearance, there is 
usually some tympanitis which makes the muscles 
swell upwards and arches the back, the bowels are 
usually constipated and the urine is scanty and 
high colored, vomiting is very often present and it 
causes the animal great pain and increases the in- 
flammation and should be prevented, the pulse is 
very frequent, small and wiry, from 110 to 110 or 
more per minute, the breathing is short and fast 
and there is a marked expression of distress char- 
acterized by the contraction of the muscles of the 
face. The cause of peritonitis is generally rapid, 
and in fatal cases the animal usually dies within 
twenty-four hours, but in some few cases it may 
run for one or even two weeks. When the fatal 
termination approaches, the pain suddenly sub- 
sides or ceases altogether and the animal may lie 
perfectly quiet; at this stage the pulse is very small 
or lasij be imperceptible, the legs are cold and the 
skin of the body is usually of a purple color, green 
or black matter will often be vomited, coma or 
convulsions take place and the animal soon dies. 



66 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

If a favorable termination is indicated the pain 
will graduall}^ subside, the muscles of the abdomen 
and face relax, the animal becomes brighter and 
takes notice of things around it, the pulse is less 
frequent and stronger, the breathing becomes 
more regular and the animal either lies quiet or 
may begin to move about looking for food. In the 
greater number of cases when they begin to im- 
prove they make a complete recovery. 

Post mortem appearance: In cases v^hich die 
early in the attack the only morbid appearance 
will be a dark redness with more or less swelling 
of the membrane and may be black or blue in spots. 
In cases of long duration there will always be more 
or less fibrous exudation upon the surface of the 
membrane and a considerable quantity of free 
liquid in the cavity. In some cases the fibrous 
exudation may become organized and join the 
other portion on the opposite side. The mem- 
brane may be somewhat of a dull white color, but 
in the majority of cases it will be found of yellow- 
ish turbid or dirty brown color and often milky, 
seropurulent or bloody. In some cases pus is 
found in pouches of the false membrane. The 
neighboring organs are more or less implicated. 

Treatment: A dose of castor oil or sulphate of 
magnesium should be given to clean out the 
bowels. If the stomach will not retain the oil or 
salts give ten to twelve grains of calomel in pills 
the physic will act as a revulsant besides remov- 
ing secretions and stimulating the portal system. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 67 

Tliis should be followed by from two to three drops 
of the fluid extract of veratrum viride every hour 
until the pulse is reduced in force and frequency. 
If there is a tendency to vomit give one grain of 
opium. To relieve pain and keep up the action of 
the mercury give one or two grains of opium and 
two to four grains of calomel twice a day. If all 
medicine is rejected by the stomach give one to two 
drops of the wine of ipecacuanha every two hours 
and give injections of warm water to empty the 
bowel, then inject two drams of laudanum mixed 
in starch gruel repeat this every two hours. Mus- 
tard made up with boiling w^ater and well rubbed 
into the skin of the abdomen or hot fomentations 
may be of use. If the disease does not yield to 
the above treatment in two or three days it will be 
necessary to have recourse to mercurial impres- 
sion this is best done by giving from two to four 
grains of calomel combined with half a grain of 
opium every four hours until the animal is sali- 
vated. When the acute stage has passed the ani- 
mal should have stimulants beat up eggs and put 
in a tablespoonful of whisky or brandy and give it 
frequently. If the pulse becomes very weak give 
aromatic spirits of ammonia in teaspoonful doses 
every two hours it should be taken in a little cold 
water. Later turpentine in doses of from ten to 
fifteen drops three times a day will be found very 
useful. Feed on well boiled oatmeal gruel cooled 
by good fresh milk. 



68 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 




Fio.141. 



Liver of a Hog — posterior view, a, Right external 
lobe; b, Right internal lobe; c, Left external lobe; 
d, Left internal lobe; e, Spigelian lobe; f, Poster- 
ior cava; g, Quadrate lobe; h, Gall bladder; i, Cys- 
tic duct; k, Ductus Choledochus. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 69 



CHAPTER VL 



THE LIVER OF THE PIG. 



The liver of the pig consists of four chief lobes: 
a right and left external, a right and left internal, 
a small quadrate and a spigelian lobe. The gall- 
bladder is large and is attached to the internal 
lobe by cellular tissue. Diseases of the liver are 
quite common in the pig, but they are so difficult 
to diagnose that they are only discovered on post 
mortem. Diseases of this organ are very often as- 
sociated with other diseases. By careful observa- 
tion and practice a few of them can be determined 
in the living pig. 

HEPATITIS. (INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER.) 

Inflammation may affect the substance of the 
liver, its investing peritoneal membrane, or both, 
and may involve the whole organ or only a part 

of it. 

Causes: Changes of temperature, such as from 
cold to heat, injuries, and the result of other dis- 
eases. It often occurs in high-bred pigs as a re^ 
suit of feeding with an excessive amount of stimu- 
lating food and want of exercise and is most com- 
monly met with in hot weather. 



70 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

Sjmptoms: The tmiinal appears dull, refuses 
food, if made to move will go stiffly and ma^^ be 
lame in the right fore leg; there will be tenderness 
on pressure over the ribs on the right side which 
will not be the case if pressure should be ai)plied 
to the left. There will sometimes be a yellowness 
of the visible mucous membrane and of the skin. 
The functions of the liver are arrested, thus the se- 
cretions of bile are not carried on and on this ac- 
count the bow^els become torpid, and the feces of a 
chocolate color. Sometimes they are affected by 
looseness and the feces are generally unhealthj^, 
evinced by an excess or deficiency or perverted 
state of the bile. There is usually a cough which 
may arise from the pressure of the liver against 
the lungs or from sympathy. The urine is high 
colored and scanty, the respiration is somewhat 
impeded and is short and jerky, the pulse is soft 
weak and frequent. With these symptoms and 
the absence of other diseases we may conclude that 
we have a case of hepatitis. There is a chronic 
form of this disease which I have met with in pigs. 
The symptoms are a dry, scurfy skin, with an un- 
thrifty appearance, in the majority of cases there 
will be a diffused yellow^ness of the mucous mem- 
brane; the animal falls off from condition and has 
a disinclination to move about; the pulse and respi- 
ration are unaffected; the feces are of a dry clay 
color and the urine is usually scanty and high col- 
ored of a deep yellow color. Hepatitis is so fruit- 
ful a source of other morbid affections that no time 
should be lost in its treatment. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 71 

Treatment: In acute hepatitis when the pulse is 
full and strong, the pig should get a dose of from 
one to two ounces epsom salts to act as a revulsant 
by depleting the system and indirectly relieving 
the portal veins. Mercurials are especially indi- 
cated in consequence of their property of increas- 
ing the hepatic secretions and thereby directly un- 
loading the congested vessels of the liver. For 
this purpose give from five to fifteen grains of calo- 
mel, this should be followed b}^ a dose of effusion 
of one ounce senna leaves; after the physic has 
operated freely give three grains of calomel morn- 
ing and evening for a few daj^s. If there is much 
pain add one grain of opium to the calomel; also 
give from ten to fifteen grains of nitrate of potas- 
sium twice a day to keep the kidneys active. In 
the chronic form give one to two ounces castor oil 
and after this has operated give from ten to fifteen 
drops of nitro-muriatic acid three times a day in a 
little water. To improve the appetite give a tea- 
spoonful each of tincture of gentian and ginger 
and two grains of quinine at a dose in water three 
times a day. If the bowels are inclined to be con- 
stipated give ten grains of aloes at a dose at night. 
There are a number of other diseases of the liver 
which are not easily detected during the life of the 
animal, and may be taken for chronic hepatitis, 
such as hypertrophy; this is an overgrowth of the 
organ, and in some few cases can be diagnosed by 
a bulging of the right side of the animal. It may 
not affect the health of the animal for some time, 



72 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

but sooner or later the structure of the liver be- 
comes impaired. 

Atroph}^ This is exactly the reverse of hyper- 
trophy and very soon deranges the sj- stem, causing 
death. 

Induration. The liver often acquires an in- 
crease in its density and hardness from depositions 
or new formations in its substance. 

Softening. This is often the result of inflamma- 
tor}^ action, but it may also occur without this 
cause. 

Fatty liver. This is an adipose degeneration of 
the liver, which usually increases in size. The 
weight is not increased in a degree corresponding 
to the enlargement. The characteristic hue of 
fatty liver is a pale yellow or cream color, diversi- 
fied by brownish, orange or reddish spots. It is 
softer than a healthy liver. When cut it has a 
brownish or pale yellow color, which is usually 
modified by innumerable red spots. It has a 
greasy feeling between the fingers. 

Waxy liver. Pathologists now believe it to be 
the result of a peculiar degeneration or deposition 
having no resemblance whatever to fatty matter. 
The liver is much enlarged and at the same time 
denser than in health. It is usually of a pale or 
fawn color, but sometimes red from congestion. 
It is tough in texture, and when cut presents a uni- 
form compact, smooth, somewhat shining or trans- 
lucent surface, pale or yellow, and not unlike the 
rind of bacon or yellow wax. (Wood.) 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 73 

Serous Cysts and Hydatids. This is a common 
disease in the pig as well as in the other domestic 
animals. I have seen a great many cases of it. 
The cysts consist of sacs containing watery fluid. 
There are two kinds, one consisting of a single s^c, 
the other of a sac containing within it one or more 
sacs. There may be only a few cysts scattered 
over the liver, or in bad cases it may have the ap- 
pearance of being converted into cysts, filling the 
whole liver. These cysts contain a parasite called 
a hydatid the origin of which is uncertain. When 
upon the surface of the liver they may break and 
cause peritonitis by the escape of their contents, 
producing death. An animal may be affected 
with this trouble for a long time and the health re- 
main good, as I have found them in the liver of pigs 
that have been killed for food, and they did not 
seem to have affected them in any way. On the 
other hand I have examined pigs that had died, 
and found the liver in a morbid condition, having 
undergone a number of changes affecting the 
health of the animal sufficiently to cause death. 

JAUNDICE. 

This is not a common disease in the pig. It is 
characterized by a yellowish color of the skin, eyes 
and urine. It is the result of absorption of bile 
into the tissues of the body, and is usually easily 
remedied in the young animal. 

Symptoms: There is usually loss of appetite, 
dulness, sometimes vomiting, and other signs of 
deranged digestiouj soon the feces become of a 



74 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

clay color, and the membraue of the eyes becomes 
yellow, and if there is white hair the skin will be 
yellow, then it gradually becomes dark and re- 
mains in that condition for a few days or some- 
tjmes weeks, then it begins to disappear. The 
bowels are usually constipated and the urine 
of a deep yellow color. In the great majority of 
cases there is not much fever and the animal is 
usually well in two weeks. 

Treatment: It is not easy to find the cause in 
the pig, but nearly all cases of jaundice require 
medicine to eliminate the bile from the system. It 
is therefore necessary to clean out the bowels, and 
this is best accomplished by giving from one to two 
ounces epsom salts; after this has operated give 
three grains of calomel at a dose three times a day 
for three days. Then give one ounce castor oil 
and half an ounce of turpentine, to be followed by 
ten drop doses of nitro-muriatic acid. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 75 



CHAPTER VIL 
HERNIA. (RUPTURE.) 

Hernia is the rupture of the walls of any organ, 
but is most frequently aj^plied to a protrusion of 
the bowel through an opening, whether natural or 
artificial. Hernii are classified according to their 
position. The ones most commonly found in the 
pig are umbilical and scrotal hernia. The former 
is not often seen in the pig and is usually congeni- 
tal and makes its appearance at birth or if not 
then, shortly after. It consists of a protrusion of 
omentum or intestine through the umbilicus, and 
is caused by a nonclosure of the navel opening. 

Symptoms: There will be a bunch at the navel 
Oldening, soft to the touch and fluctuating, and if 
pressed upon will pass into the opening, to return 
as soon as the pressure is removed. It does not in- 
convenience the animal as long as it does not be- 
come strangulated, which it seldom does, and if 
not increasing in size it is better not to meddle 
with it, but if it is growing larger the sooner it is 
reduced the better. I have seen cases in the pig in 
which it became so large as to trail on the ground, 
and such cases cannot be successfully treated. 

Treatment: Turn the animal on its back and 
press the intestine in; when this is done pass a 



76 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

skewer through the skin close to the walls of the 
abdomen; then tie a cord around the skin between 
the skewer and the walls of the abdomen; the cord 
should be tied tight enough to stop the circulation, 
but not tight enough to cut too soon into the skin. 
It will be better to tie on a second one on the third 
day than to tie the first one too tight. This method 
causes an outpouring of serum which fills up the 
opening, and in two weeks' time it becomes organ- 
ized and the cure is complete. 

SCROTAL HERNIA. 

This form is where the intestines have passed 
into the scrotum or pouch through an opening or 
canal leading from the abdomen to the scrotum. 
In some cases in young animals this canal is large, 
thus allowing the intestines to escape through it 
into the pouch. 

Sj^mptoms: The scrotum will be larger than 
natural, and when pressed upon it will be soft and 
doughy. 

Treatment: Place the animal on its back and 
press the intestines into the abdominal cavity, 
draw up the scrotum and testicles as far as pos- 
sible, then put on a wooden clamp below the tes- 
ticles, let the clamp remain on until it sloughs off 
and by that time the opening will be closed a plain 
clamp, no caustic is needed. If much swelling 
should take place bathe with hot water, and after 
each bathing use a little of the following lotion: 
acetate of lead, half an ounce, sulphate of zinc, half 
an ounce, water, one quart. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



7? 



PLATE 52 

^•Sure49. Figure 52. 




Figure 49.— Pork "measles ;" natural size ; Hearth and 
Home, after Owen. 

Figure 50. — Young tape-worm from measles of pork; and 
Fig. 51, head of same, more enlarged; Hearth and Home, after 
Owen. 

Figure 52.— Pork tape-worm (Tenia solium), less than na- 
tural size ; Hearth and Home, after Owen. 



78 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

THE INTERNAL PARASITES OF THE PIG. 

The parasites of the pig are so intimately con- 
nected with those of the human being that there is 
no doubt but that in certain stages of their de- 
velopment nearly all the most dangerous kinds 
are derived, either directly or indirectly, from the 
hog to mankind, and in return man furnishes to 
the hog the eggs of several of their worst parasites. 
Some of these w^orms are kept in existence solely 
by reason of the peculiar relations existing be- 
tween man and the domestic animals. This is 
the case particularly in respect to the most com- 
mon, tape-worm, of men, derived respectively 
from the flesh of cattle and hogs when imperfectly 
cooked. Measly pork should be avoided as unfit 
for food unless thoroughly cooked, yet such pork 
has been eaten when it was badly infested with 
measles. It can be easily known by its spawn-like 
appearance. In this country a very large propor- 
tion of the hogs not onl}^ harbor this entozoon, but 
also the common lung-strongle. 

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 

Worms, sometimes on account of their move- 
ments and the interruption they offer to the con- 
tents of the bowels, and their other modes of irri- 
tation, very often cause uneasiness and pain. 
From sympathy there is very frequent sensation of 
itching at the anus and nose, producing a disposi- 
tion to scratch or rub the root of the tail and poke 
the nose into the ground. This is a very common 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 79 

symptom of worms. The bowels are sometimes 
constipated and at others relaxed with straining 
and mucous or blood discharges; the mucus which 
is passed may be in shreds, which are sometimes 
mistaken for fragments of half digested w^orms. 
They also interfere with digestion, both of the 
stomach and intestines, which is indicated by un- 
digested* food in the feces. The appetite is very 
variable it may be natural in some cases and in 
others deficient, depraved or craving usually the 
animal has a ravenous appetite, eating material 
which it would not touch in health. Bleeding 
from the nose, cough and swelling of the lips are 
also symptoms. The effects of worms frequently 
extend beyond the alimentary canal. Among the 
most common of these affections are derangement 
of the nervous system, such as vertigo, chorea and 
fits, obstinate cough, swelling of glottis, dyspnea 
and palpitation. They also cause some fever and 
loss of flesh and several skin diseases. It is diffi- 
cult to diagnose a case of worms, as the above 
symptoms may be caused from indigestion. A 
new means of detecting them is by the microscope; 
even if there are no fragments of the worms pres- 
ent in the feces their eggs can be detected. Sus- 
pected cases ought to be examined by the micro- 
scope, and if the examiner is acquainted with the 
character of the ova this will decide the case. 

Causes of worms : There has been a great contro- 
versy on this subject, but no doubt the parasites 
obey the general law of nature in their develop- 
ment and growth. It is probable that the ova 



go mSEASES OF TCHE HOGf. 

which are received into the alimentary canal are 
capable of development in a healthy state of this 
structure, as worms are sometimes found in the 
stomach and intestine of the hog. There are cer- 
tain conditions of these organs which are favor- 
able for the breeding of worms, such as indiges- 
tion, the accumulation of undigested food and of 
mucus and diseases of the intestine. The kind 
of food the animal eats in a raw condition contain- 
ing the ova of worms makes the pig more liable 
to worms than other animals. All kinds of vege- 
table and animal food should be cooked: grains 
can be eaten raw with impunity; hogs should 
not be allowed to eat diseased meat unless it has 
been thoroughl}^ cooked. I have known healthy 
pigs which were given the flesh of animals that 
died from disease to become badly affected with 
worms. 

THORN=HEADED WORHS. 

Figure 74. 



mjm 



Figure 74. — This worm is quite frequently found 
in the intestines of pigs; it is easily known by the 
peculiar proboscis which bears several circles of 
small but sharp hooks. They locate usually in the 
small intestines of the pig, w^here they fasten them- 
selves by means of the spiny proboscis mentioned 
above, this being pushed into the lining membrane 
of the intestine; in some cases they bore through 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 81 

this and migrate to other parts of the body, where 
their presence causes great disturbance. The 
eggs of this worm pass from the hog and are 
eaten by the grubs of certain large beetles; in the 
stomach of these grubs the eggs develop into em- 
bryos, or rather the embryos already developed 
are set free and bore through the intestine and lo- 
cate themselves in tlie body of the grub. Here they 
become encysted and remain dormant until the 
grub is eaten by the pig and then once in the stom- 
ach or intestine of this animal it develops into a 
worm at once. The color of this worm is white or 
bluish white, the female being from five to twenty 
inches in length, while the male is from three to 
five inches long. The female is very prolific, pro- 
ducing immense numbers of eggs, which are of a 
somewhat oblong-oval shape. 

Symptoms: Pigs may have a number of these 
worms without their causing any noticeable de- 
rangement; on the other hand they often derange 
the digestion and assimilation, causing loss of 
flesh and a general unhealthy appearance. The 
animal is usually hungry and may eat large quan- 
tities of food and yet remain thin. When a pig has 
such symptoms with the absence of any other ail- 
ment we may suspect that worms are the cause. 
In very bad cases the pig becomes w^eak in the loins 
and the membrane in the corners of the eyes 
swollen, red and watery; the animal suffers pain, 
which is indicated by it continually grunting or 
squealing; such hogs are usually bad tempered 
and will bite and snarl at the other pigs. In some 



g2 DISEASES OF THE HOO. 

cases the weakness increases and the animal is 
unable to stand and soon dies. 

Treatment: This worm is easily removed by 
medicine. I have had good results from the fol- 
loAving: Give half an ounce of the fluid extract of 
spigelia and senna at a dose every four hours until 
purging takes place, or thirty grains of koosin as 
a pill; one dose of this is usually sufficient An- 
other good remedy is to beat up two ounces of 
pumpkin seeds into a pulp with sugar and give 
at one dose; this should be followed in four hours 
with a brisk physic, castor oil or epsom salts. San- 
tonine is also useful in from three to five grain 
doses made into a pill. Chenopodie oleum (worm 
seed oil) in from twenty to thirty drops may be 
given in a little syrup, followed in two hours by a 
purge. These medicines should be given on an 
empty stomach. If the animal has become very 
weak the strength should be kept up by stimulants 
such as small doses of whisky and coddiver oil, or 
whisky and eggs; and if there is fever two to four 
grains of quinine should be given at a dose three 
times a day. 

OXURIS VERMICULARIS (PIN WORM.) 
Figure 78. 



h •/ 

Figure 78. — The seat of this worm is the rectum, 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 83 

but tliey are sometimes found in the colon and 
have been seen in the stomach; on this account they 
have been called the maw worm. They are usually 
about half an inch long and white in color; they 
multiply very rapidly; their eggs are very small 
and are often deposited on the grass and may be 
washed into the streams or ponds of water and 
in this way enter the stomach and bowels. They 
are found in all the higher animals. 

Symptoms: They usually cause itching at the 
root of the tail or by reflex action cause derange- 
ment of other parts of the body. Though produc- 
tive of great annoyance and even suffering, they 
do not usually injure the health of the animal. 

Treatment: Clean out the rectum by injections 
of warm water, infuse two ounces of quassia chips 
in a pint of boiling water and when cool inject it 
into the rectum; repeat in a week if necessary. A 
brisk purge will often wash out a number of them. 

TRECOCEPHALUS DISPAR (LONG THREAD WORM.) 

This worm is found most frequently in some part 
of the colon and cecum, but sometimes in the small 
intestines, either loose or with its anterior capil- 
lary portion inserted into the mucous membrane. 
It is often observed in great numbers in animals 
that have died from some acute disease. I have 
found numbers of these worms partially buried in 
the mucous membrane, but they did not seem to 
have caused much disturbance. They are about 
half an inch to one inch and a half long and about 
as thick as a common thread, and are very active 



g4- DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

in their motion. From experiments that have been 
made it appears that the ova are never developed 
in the animal body, but being discharged with the 
feces retain their vitality for a long time, and if 
placed in water become at the end of about eight 
months and a half developed into embryos, about 
one three-hundredth of an inch in length. It is 
probable that these are carried by the rain and 
other means into streams, wells, etc., whence the 
drinking water is derived and thus they become 
fully developed. There are no particular symp- 
toms by w^hich we can detect this worm from oth- 
ers during the life of the animal, and the treatment 
would be the same as for the thorn-headed worm. 
Very often when worm medicine is given a variety 
of worms will be discharged at the same time. 

ASCARIS SUILLA (ROUND WORM.) 

This is a round, smooth worm of considerable 
size; the male usually reaches when fully devel- 
oped six inches, and the female may be twice that 
length. This worm usually does no harm when 
there are only a few present. The animal will like- 
ly keep in good health, but when they are numer- 
ous they will disturb digestion and cause colicky 
pains, loss of flesh, dry hair, morbid appetite, rest- 
lessness and nervous twitching, and in some cases 
fits. Cases are recorded in which they worked 
through the walls of the intestines and, reaching 
some of the other organs of the body caused death. 
This worm generally inhabits the small intestine, 
but not infrequently finds its way forward to the 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 85 

stomach or backwards to the rectum and some- 
times escapes from the intestine through the anus. 
This worm has also been found in the biliary duct, 
gall bladder and the substance of the liver. There 
has been a number of experiments made to find the 
origin of this worm, and it is found that the eggs 
of this worm are passed from the bowel. They re- 
tain their vitality for a long time; they appear 
never to be developed in the bowels, but when dis- 
charged and kept in water they begin to show signs 
of life and in about seven months contain embryo 
worms one one hundred and twentieth of an inch 
in length. These have not been seen to break shell 
but the ova carried into streams, ponds and wells 
sometimes probably find an entrance into the stom- 
ach with the drinking water, when the embryo es- 
capes from its shell and completes its growth in 
the intestine. 

Treament: The best remedy for this worm is 
the fluid extract of spigelia and senna given in 
half ounce doses every four hours until it causes 
purging. Worm seed oil (chenopodium) in doses 
of from five to ten drops given in a tablespoonful 
of castor oil is also good. Turpentine in doses of 
from fifteen to twenty drops three times a day fol- 
lowed by castor oil or epsom salts is useful. The 
cedar apple, an excrescence found on the red cedar 
has been used with good results in doses of from 
twenty to twenty-five grains of the powder, re- 
peated three times a day, followed by a physic. 



86 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

SPIROPTERA STRONQYLINE— RUD. 

There are a number of small, whitish or reddish 
round worms which taper somewhat towards the 
anterior end, or towards both ends. The head is 
small with small papillae or naked; the male grows 
to about half an inch long or more; the female one- 
third of an inch or more; it lives in the stomach of 
the pig, but generally does not produce any serious 
disease. The fluid extract of spigelia and senna in 
half ounce doses given every four hours until purg- 
ing ensues usually dislodges them. 

SCLEROSTOTUM DENTaTUM (DIESINQ.) 

This is a small worm living in the intestines of 
swine. The male is about one third of an inch long ; 
the female half an inch long; the body is of a dark 
color and the surface is finely marked with trans- 
verse striae. It is quite slender and tapering at 
each end, but the male has near the tail a three- 
lobed expansion. The eggs are laid in the intes- 
tines, from which they pass out into the open air 
and are soon hatched. The mouth of this worm is 
circular and armed with six teeth, by means of 
which it attaches itself to the intestines and 
pierces the tissue, feeding upon the blood. If there 
are many of them they create such a drain on the 
system of their host as to weaken and possibly de- 
stroy it. It may also by its irritation of the bow- 
els cause serious trouble and disease. An active 
purge is the best remedy for the removal of this 
worm. 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

STRONG YLUS DENTATUS (RUD.] 

Figure 80. 



87 



Figure 80. — This worm is found in the intestine 
of the hog. It is a slender filiform worm about 
half an inch long; the head is obtuse and sur- 
rounded by six acute papillae; the oesophagus is 
short, thick and muscular; in the male the tail is 



88 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

truncated and provided with an oblique bursa; in 
the female it is elongated and slender, ending in a 
fine point; the genital opening is near the posterior 
end. The history of this worm is not known. It 
does not seem to do much harm. The usual treat- 
ment for worms is nearly always effectual in bring- 
ing them away. I have seen quite a number of 
them mixed with other worms in the feces of a hog 
that had been treated for worms. 

STRONGYLUS ELONGATUS. 

This species live in the lung and air passages of 
the pig. This worm is about one to one and one- 
half inches long. They often occur singly or sev- 
eral together. When they are numerous they set 
up great disturbance, often resulting in the death 
of the host. The first symptom of the disease is a 
cough, usually slight at first, but soon becoming 
very distressing, and the pig shows signs of suffo- 
cation, which sometimes takes place, or infiamma- 
tion may set in and carry the animal off. This dis- 
ease is often taken for catarrh or some other res- 
X)iratory trouble and it is very difficult to diagnose 
unless a worm which has been coughed up may be 
seen protruding from the nose. 

Treatment: This is not easy in the pig. Small 
quantities of turpentine injected into the nostrils 
may reach the worms. Turpentine given in tea- 
spoonful doses three times daily will sometimes be 
of use, as the turpentine is partly eliminated by 
the lung's. The inhalation of the fumes of carbolic 
acid is also useful. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 89 

KIDNEY WORH (EUSTRONQYLUS GIGAS.) 

Figure 81. 




Fig. 81. — This worm is found in the kidneys of 
all the domestic animals and in man, although it is 
very rare. It is a large worm and it is said that 
sometimes the female becomes three feet long and 
half an inch in diameter, although usually much 
less. The male becomes ten to twelve inches long. 
I have never seen any of them so large, as they are 
usually only a few inches long. The body is smooth, 
round and tapering somewhat to each end, and of 
a deep red color. When such worms are present 
in the kidneys they gradually but completely de- 
stroy the substance of the kidney which becomes 
filled with purulent matter, upon which the worm 
feeds, while the walls often become hardened 
with calcarous deposits. The effects and symptoms 
are the same as in other acute diseases or abscesses 
in one of thekidneys. The only positive proof of the 
presence of the worms would be the discovery of 
the eggs in the urine. Itis probable that no remedy 
can be applied when the parasite is once lodged in 
the kidney. The history of this worm is not fully 
known. (Verill.) 

I have found live worms in the kidneys of both 
the pig and dog and the kidneys were perfectly 



90 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



healthy and neither animal seemed to be in any 
way affected by them. The loss of power of the 
hind parts of pigs which has been attributed to 
kidney worms, is not due to a parasite, but to par- 
alysis of the muscles of the hind parts. I have made 
careful investigations of such cases, but failed to 
find any worms or any disease of the kidneys. 
Paralysis of the hind parts would not be the symp- 
tom of kidney disease. 

TRICHINA SPIRALIS. 



Figure 76. 




Figure 76.— A small piece of human muscle containing 
encysted young of Trichina spiralis Owen, enlarged forty-five 
diameters. From Hearth and Home, after Leuckart. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



91 



Figure 76. — This very minute worm is found in 
the larva stage in large numbers in the flesh of 
some pigs, dogs, cats, rats, mice, rabbits, guinea- 
pigs and many other animals, in the natural state 
in the intestines of the same animals. The male is 
very small, measuring only one-eighteenth of an 
inch. The female is stouter and longer than the 
male, measuring about one eighth of an inch. The 
young trichinae occur embedded in the muscles of 
the pig and various other animals. They are so 
small as to be quite invisible to the eye and mill- 
ions of them may be in the flesh of the pig without 
producing any unusual appearance; even an ex- 
pert could not detect them without the aid of the 
microscope. This is why so many deaths occur 
from eating pork filled with this parasite. When 
these little worms are first introduced into the mus- 
cles of the pig they are free and coiled up among 
the fibers of the muscles; but after a few weeks they 
become incased in minute whitish, elongated cysts, 
supposed to be the result of irritation set up by 
their movement and feeding. Figure 76. In a year's 
time these cysts become calcified by a deposit of 
carbonate of lime in the membrane; when this 
takes place minute white specks about the size of 
hemp-seeds may be seen in the muscles. When 
the worms are inclosed in the cyst they lie dormant 
and although they may live for years and even 
Aveeks after the death of their host they can do no 
further harm, unless they are eaten by man or some 
animal. Each cyst contains a little slender worm 
about one twentj- -fifth of an inch long and one sev- 



92 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

en-hundredth of an inch in thickness coiled up in 
two or three turns; the size of the c^^st is about one- 
eighth of an inch long and one one-hundred and 
thirtieth thick. If the flesh of the pig containing 
these worms be eaten by man, they become liber- 
ated in the stomach and, entering the intestine, at- 
tach themselves to its soft lining, and there, sur- 
rounded with abundance of food, they grow^ very 
rapidly and become mature, with full}^ developed 
sexual organs, in two days. The females are more 
numerous than the male and become about one 
eighth of an inch long when full grown. They pair 
as soon as mature and the male soon dies, but the 
female begins to give birth to living worms in five 
or six days from the time it enters the stomach and 
lives long enough to produce a brood of from five 
hundred to one thousand young worms each. As 
one ounce of i)ork often contains a quarter of a mill- 
ion or more of the worms, it is not surprising that 
the million of adult worms and their offspring 
sometimes resulting from a single meal of raw 
pork should by their presence, produce great irrita- 
tion and inflammation of the intestine and violent 
diarrhea and vomiting, which are often the first 
symptoms in severe cases. But the young worms 
as soon as they are born, begin to eat or force their 
way through the membrane of the intestine into 
the minute blood vessels and other organs, thus 
vastly increasing the iriitation. Entering the cir- 
culation they are carried bj^ the blood to the heart, 
thence to the lungs and then become diffused 
through the whole system. (Yerrill.) Some other ob- 



DISEASES OP THE HOa gg 

servers think the young worms force their way di- 
rectly through the intestine and all the interven- 
ing organs, until they reach a suitable habitation 
in tlie voluntary muscles. According to Dr. Leuck- 
art they travel b}^ way of the inter-muscular con- 
nective tissue, and are found most abundantly in 
the groups of muscles nearest the abdominal cav- 
ity, especially in those that are smallest and have 
the most connective tissue. The cysts containing 
trichinae w^ere first observed in human muscles in 
1882, but the worms were first named and described 
by Owen in 1835, but were only regarded as anatom- 
ical curiosities of no practical importance, until 
1860, when Zenker proved that they are capable of 
producing the severe and often fatal disease now 
well known under the name of Trichiniasis, but 
which has been previously confounded with ty- 
phoid fever, inflammatory rheumatism or rheu- 
matic fever, poisoning and other diseases. 



94 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTER IX. 

DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 

Inflammation may occupy a distinct portion of 
the respiratory passages and terminate where it 
began, or it may affect several portions succes- 
sively or all at the same time, forming one continu- 
ous disease. It v^all be more convenient to consider 
each set separateh\ The pig is a very bad subject 
to examine as it is impossible to keep it quiet, and 
if we try to do so we excite the animal so much that 
both the respiration and the circulation are much 
increased in frequency, therefore we cannot get 
much aid in this line. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE NOSTRILS OR CORYZA. 

The same mucous membrane lines the nostrils 
and the sinuses of the head and face and these parts 
are all liable to become inflamed at the same time, 
constituting what is called a cold in the head, and 
very often the membrane of the eyelids will be 
affected at the same time through sympathy. 

Causes. — The most frequent exciting cause is ex- 
posure to cold such as lying in cold, damp places in 
cold weather, especially cold east winds and rain. 
Some pigs are much more suscei:>tible to colds than 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 95 

others. This disease is often epizootic, affecting 
nearly all the pigs in a neighborhood at or about 
the same time. 

Symptoms. — The first symptom is that of dry- 
ness with some swelling of the membrane, and irri- 
tation which causes sneezing; this is generally fol- 
lowed by copious discharge of a thin, acrid fluid, 
which irritates the margin of the nose and the 
membrane, increasing the inflammation. The nos- 
trils are partially closed by the swelling, which 
causes the animal to make a snuffling sound; the 
eyes become red and watery, either from sympathy 
or by the continuous extension of the inflammation 
up the lachrymal passages. In the majority of 
cases there are no constitutional symptoms; the 
pulse remains r^atural and the appetite is unim- 
paired. In some few cases there will be more or 
less fever indicated by loss of appetite, hot, dry 
skin and a somewhat excited pulse. The complaint 
usually attains its height in three or four days, then 
it begins to abate. The secretions from the nose 
are thicker and less copious and sometimes assume 
a yellowish color. If there has been any fever it 
gradually subsides and recovery is usually com- 
plete in from seven to ten days. If it should extend 
to the throat and downwards it would constitute 
laryngitis and bronchitis, which will be described 
under their respective heads. 

Treatment: Most cases of this disease are so 
mild that no medicine is needed. The pig should 
be kept in a comfortable place at night and allowed 
to run at large during the day. A warm mash at 



96 DISEASES OF THE UOG. 

night with a little good ginger in it will be all that 
is necessary. If there should be fever give the ani- 
mal a dose of epsom salts and follow this by giving 
small doses of nitrate of potassium, ten to fifteen 
grains. If the nostrils should get very much filled 
up put a piece of camphor in hot water and hold it 
under the nose for ten minutes; or take a small bot- 
tle of tincture of iodine and hold it under the nose; 
the heat of the hands will cause it to give off vapor 
of iodine. A few doses of quinine often affords re- 
lief. 

CHRONIC INFLAfinATlON OF THE NOSTRILS OR OZENA. 

When simple catarrh continues beyond the usual 
period it is apt to become clironic. The mucous 
surfaces have become weakened or ulcerated, giv- 
ing rise to a yellowish muco-purulent discharge, or 
mucous membrane may become thickened and 
make breathing somewhat difficult. I have known 
young pigs to die of this disease. 

Treatment: Give the pig from eight to ten 
grains of sulphate of iron in its food twice a day. 
In young pigs when they get badly stuffed up the 
nostrils should be cleaned out and steamed with 
hot water with a little carbolic acid in it. In some 
cases it will be necessary to inject into the nostrils 
a solution of sulphate of zinc, beginning with four 
grains to the ounce and rapidly increasing it to 
twenty grains to the fluid ounce repeat several 
times a day. Fowler's solution of arsenic in from 
three to five drops given in the food three times a 



btSEASES OP TME hog. {)7 

day is useful; tliis cau be eontiuued for a month if 
necessary. 

HALIGNANT CATARRH. 

This disease in the pig somewhat resembles glan- 
ders in the horse. It is not common in this country, 
and when it advances to the second stage it is bet- 
ter to destroy the animal and thus prevent any 
danger of it spreading to other hogs, as it is useless 
to try treating such a case. 

Symptoms: There is considerable discharge 
from the nostrils and eyes. The eyelids are swollen 
and the animal keeps in dark places, as the light 
seems to annoy it. The disease extends gradually 
to the back part of the mouth and throat, causing 
swelling of the mucous membrane resulting in suf- 
focating cough with difficult breathing. The nose 
becomes thick and ill shaped; the discharge be- 
comes ver}^ offensive and often mixed with blood; 
the animal has considerable fever; the breathing is 
very frequent, the pulse is rapid and. the heart fee- 
ble; there is usually great thirst; the animal re- 
fuses all food and loses flesh rapidly; the feces are 
black and the urine high colored, and in this stage 
if it is not checked the pig soon dies from weakness 
and suffocation. 

Treatment: Give two ounces of castor oil and 
follow this by giving from five to eight drops of 
nitrohydrochloric acid at a dose three times a day 
in a little oatmeal gruel. If the animal is weak 
give from two to four grains of quinine, in two 
tablespoonfuls of whisky. The head and face 



98 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

should be bathed with acetate of lead half an ounce 
to the quart of water. If the cough is troublesome 
give from fifteen to twenty drops of tincture of 
opium in a spoonful of water. When there is a ten- 
dency to suffocation gargle the throat with tincture 
chloride of iron, a teaspoonful to the ounce of 
water. Bathe the neck with hot water and then 
rub on mustard. Steaming the nostrils in this com- 
plaint is useful. If the animal does not improve in 
a few days it will be better to destroy it 

QUINSY OF THE PIG. 

This disease is characterized by sore throat and 
the appearance of a swelling on the sides of the 
neck at the angle of the lower jaw and sometimes 
extending between its wings. When the swelling 
is large it presses on the larynx (upper part of the 
windpipe), causing difficult breathing, and in some 
cases suffocation. This is a local disease and one 
common to the pig, and usually yields to treat- 
ment. 

Treatment: Give the pig all the cold water it 
will drink. Put half a dram of chloride of am- 
monia in half a pint of water and if the animal is 
thirsty and will drink water, put it in the drinking 
water; if not, give it with a bottle, repeat three 
times a day. Bathe the neck with hot water and 
rub on a little camphorated liniment. If the breath- 
ing is difficult give three drops of the fluid extract 
pf bellaflonna and ten grains of chlorate of potas- 
sium at a dose three times a day; steam the nostrils 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 99 

three times a day with hot water, with a piece of 
camphor in it. Binding hot cloths around the 
throat is useful. 

LARYNGITIS AND PHARYNGITIS (SORE THROAT.) 

This is a very common disease in the pig, and is 
characterized by cough, difficulty in swallowing 
liquids, and rough breathing. 

Causes: The causes of sore throat are changes 
from heat to cold or from a cold place to one that 
is hot and badly ventilated, lying in cold, wet straw 
and changes in the atmosphere. Pigs that have 
been driven a distance and are over-heated and cool 
off suddenly are liable to get sore throat. 

Symptoms: There will be a hard, dry cough, 
difficulty in swallowing food and water, impaired 
appetite, froth from the mouth and more or less 
roughness in the breathing; the cough is often spas- 
modic and distressing; there is no external swelling 
and it is easily distinguished from quinsy on this 
account. In bad cases there will be considerable 
fever with a fast full pulse and some elevation of 
the temperature; the skin will be hot and dry and 
the hair rough; the pig will lie most of the time un- 
less the cough is very severe, when it will stand up 
until the fit of coughing passes. This disease is 
usually manageable, though in a few instances, 
when very intense or attended with an unusual 
degree of serous effusion into the submucous tissue, 
it becomes very alarming and even causes death. 
Its great danger under these circumstances is ow- 
ing to the narrowness of the passage through the 



100 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

chink of the glottis, which is closed by its wall$ 
being swollen, probabl}^ being aided by spasms of 
the muscles, thus preventing the admission of air 
so that the pig dies of true asphyxia. There is no 
other portion of the resj^iratory j)assages in which 
an equal extent of inflammation is capable of pro- 
ducing the same fatal results. I have made post- 
mortem examination of young pigs which died of 
this disease, where the glottis was completely 
closed, all the other organs being in perfect health. 
Death is usually very rapid in such cases. I have 
known several instances in which the animal died 
in ten hours from the beginning of the attack. 

Treatment: Give from one to two ounces of cas- 
tor oil; follow this by giving ten grains chloride of 
potassium and from two to three drops of the fluid 
extract of belladonna three or four times a day. 
Steam the nostrils with hot w^ater and camphor 
every two hours if there is much difficulty in 
breathing. In some cases great beneflt will be de- 
rived from giving an emetic. Mix four grains of 
potassium-tartrate of antimony and six grains of 
ipecacuanha in a little gruel; repeat in half an hour 
if vomiting does not take place; this will remove 
any collection of mucus in the throat and will also 
reduce the fever; this should always be done w^hen 
there is any tendency to suffocation. Half a tea- 
spoonful of the compound syrup of squills is often 
useful repeated several times a day. If the cough 
is very troublesome give from fifteen to twenty- 
five drops of tincture of opium in a little water. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. IQl 

When there is much fever advantage can some- 
times be had by giving two grains of calomel 
every two hours until it has made an impression 
on the pulse, or from three to five drops of the 
fluid extract of veratrum viride four or five 
times a day in a little water. Sometimes ad- 
vantage is obtained from gargling the throat with 
alum and water, a teaspoonf ul of alum to a glass of 
water; this can be repeated every hour or two. The 
operation of tracheotomy cannot be resorted to 
with success on account of the shortness of the neck 
and the accumulation of fat. 

CHRONIC LARYNGITIS. 

This form is not common in the pig. The mucous 
membrane though inflamed maintains its integrity. 
There is little inconvenience; it is only when ulcera- 
tion takes place that it injures the animal. A pig 
may be affected with this trouble and keep in good 
condition and the only thing noticeable will be a 
dry cough, which does not yield easily to treatment. 
The best remedy is the compound syrup of squills 
in thirty drop doses three times a day. If ulcera- 
tion should take place there will be a little blood 
mixed with the mucus coughed up. This form of 
disease cannot be successfully treated in the pig. 
Giving turpentine in dram doses three times a day 
and making the animal inhale the fumes from 
burning tar will sometimes be beneficial and might 
be tried. 



iOv; DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

NERVOUS COUGH. 

We meet with pigs having a cough, especially 
among the yonng ones; it is not attended with any 
symptoms of catarrh; there is no evidence of in- 
flammation or irritation of any part of the respira- 
tory passages, nor are there any of the abnormal 
sounds heard of a moist or dry character that can 
be detected. The trouble is purely a nervous one. 
It is caused by some morbid condition of the nerves 
of respiration or of the centers. The cough is 
usually dry unless the paroxysms are severe, then 
a little mucus may come up. It may last for 
months or it may pass off in a few weeks. It does 
not as a general thing disturb the health of the 
animal and resembles a mild attack of whooping- 
cough in the human. It usually yields to treat- 
ment. Tincture of asafetida in dram doses three 
times a day or better if it can be obtained is allium 
or English garlic; the oil of garlic is the most con- 
venient, dose from ten to fifteen drops three times 
a da}^ given in a little syrup or dropped on sugar. 
I have found from experience that this form of 
cough will run its course without any treatment 

INFLAMMATION OF THE BRONCHIAL TUBE5. 
(BRONCHITIS.) 

Tinder this head we shall take in inflammation 
of trachea as well as the bronchial tubes. Bron- 
chitis is not very common in the pig, although I 
have seen some well marked cases of it, especially 
in shoats of from six weeks to three months old, and 
it often proves fatal. It varies very greatly in de- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 103 

gree and character. The iuHainuiation ver^^ fre- 
quently begins at the nostrils, fauces or larynx and 
passes down the trachea into the bronchial 
tubes. 

Causes: Cold in some form is the usual cause 
and is most common in the fall. Young pigs which 
have to lie out at nights exposed to cold rains or 
those kept in cold, w^et houses are very apt to take 
inflammation of some part of the respiratory pas- 
sages. Pigs should have a good, dry, warm place to 
sleep in at night. It is said that an excess of ozone 
in the atmosphere may occasionally cause it as well 
as coryza and laryngitis; this may be true as we 
sometimes find a number of animals affected with 
bronchitis at the same time. 

Symptoms: , There is a cough and usually some 
hoarseness with distressed breathing; the animal is 
restless, holding up its head as if it was suffering 
snuffing the air; there is fever indicated by dryness 
of the skin and fast pulse; the cough is at first dry 
and painful; as the disease advances the coush be- 
comes softer and after severe coughing there will 
be more or less mucus of a white frothy color com- 
ing from the mouth; the appetite is impaired ac- 
cording to the severity of the fever. The disease 
generally lasts from four to ten days; at that time 
if the appetite is improving, the skin becoming 
moist and the cough less frequent, the animal 
makes a rapid recovery. In bad cases the inflam- 
mation sinks deeper into the small bronchial bron- 
chi; the air enters with difficulty through the con- 
stricted tubes, causing great oppression and diffi- 



104 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

cult breathing, and the animal suffers from a feel- 
ing of suffocation. Another danger arises from 
the small tubes becoming filled with mucus inter- 
fering with the due aeration of the blood. This 
bloodj passing through the vessels of the brain, has 
a very depressing effect on the system and some- 
times causes sudden death, or death may be pre- 
ceded by coma or delirium. In very distressing 
cases there will often be a little blood mixed with 
the mucus. This is a much more dangerous dis- 
ease in animals, especially the very young ones, as 
they seem to be unable to throw out the mucus. 

Treatment of Bronchitis : In the early stages of 
the disease give one ounce of epsom salts to clean 
out the stomach and bowels and also to act as a re- 
vulsent; follow this by taking one pint of linseed 
tea with two drams of antimonial wine in it; give 
this in divided doses during the day. Other demul- 
cents such as gum arable in proportion of one ounce 
to the pint of water or effusion of slippery elm 
would be useful. If there is much cough give from 
one to two grains of opium in a little of the above 
emulsion; if there is high fever give three or four 
drops of tincture of aconite and from ten to fifteen 
grains of nitrate of potassium. In severe cases if 
the hog is strong a full dose of calomel, eight to ten 
grains, given at once, is very useful. We cannot 
with any satisfaction to ourselves or benefit to the 
pig use hot water to the surface of the body; but 1 
think some benefit may be derived by rubbing the 
sides well with compound soap liniment or mus- 
tard several time.':^ After the acute stage is passed 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 105 

the compound syrup of squills in doses of from 
twenty to thirty drops three times a day will be 
found serviceable. At this stage of the disease 
opium should be avoided as it is apt to arrest the 
secretions or prevent the expulsion of mucus from 
the small bronchi and therefore increase the dis- 
tress and danger. It is better in the case of the pig 
not to restrain the cough, as it is often an effort of 
nature to expel the accumulated mucus. If the 
cough should be very distressing recourse may then 
sometimes be had to the fluid extract of hyoscya- 
mus three to five drops at a dose every two hours 
or hydrocyanic acid in doses from five to fifteen 
drops every two hours. In the advanced stages 
when it appears to be verging on a chronic form, 
take one ounc,e of the bruised roots of senega and 
licorice, boil this in one and one half pints of water 
down to a pint, and when cool add one grain tartar 
emetic and two ounces of sugar, and give the ani- 
mal a tablespoonf ul of this every tw^o hours. If the 
pig is weak, give it five to ten grains of carbonate 
of ammonia in a little cold water every two hours. 
The animal's strength should be supported by good 
milk or eggs beaten up and a little whisky added 
to it. Keep the animal as comfortable as possible. 
Post Mortem Appearances. — The bronchial mu- 
cous membrane is reddened, thickened, sometimes 
softened; in some cases there is ulceration and gan- 
grene. Occasionally the redness is diffused, but 
more frequently in patches. In some few cases 
there will be abrasion. The tubes contain mucus in 
various states, sometimes blood and not infrequent- 



106 DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

ly pus. In cases where the animal has died from 
an accumulation of mucus in the tubes the lungs 
refuse to collapse upon the admission of air into 
the pleural cavities. Under the microscope the 
surface of the membrane may sometimes be seen 
deprived of its epithelium and the fibrous layer 
covered with a fibrous exudation in its place. The 
substance of thelungs is more or less affected, often 
they are congested in patches, sometimes there will 
be small abscesses filled with pus bearing a resem- 
blance to tubercles when cut into ; these are lined 
with false membrane and communicate with the 
bronchial tubes. Chronic bronchitis is not a usual 
result of the acute in animals; but if a cough with 
more or less discharge of mucus should remain 
after all acute symptoms have passed it may be 
called chronic and is best treated by tonics and 
stimulants, such as iron, quinine and whisky, or 
from five to eight drops of Fowler's solution of 
arsenic, three times a day in food. A very good 
one is ten grains of sulphate of copper in the food 
three times a day. Two drams of tar in the food 
twice a day I have found very effectual. 

CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS. 

This is a common disease in the pig, and consists 
of engorgement of the vessels of the lungs with 
blood and a detention of it in the capillaries caus- 
ing what is known as pulmonary apoj)lexy. This 
state of engorgement is recognized as acute, pas- 
sive and mechanical. The former is the one which 
we most frequently encounter and is readily recog- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 107 

nized in the pig. When pigs are fat they have very 
little breathing space left and therefore are not in 
a fit condition for fast movement. When it be- 
comes necessary to drive pigs in this state, particu- 
larly if the day is hot, great care should be taken 
not to push them, but allow them to rest occasion- 
ally. I have known pigs which have been driven 
or chased when they would stray from the herd to 
fall down and never rise again. The exertion caused 
the heart to propel more blood to the lungs than 
they could receive in a natural state, causing dis- 
tention of the vessels which pressed on the air cells 
preventing access of air resulting in suffocation. 
When the animal shows symptoms of fatigue it 
should be rested for a short time and be given a 
drink of water. It is also caused by colds, badly 
ventilated houses and is the result of other dis- 
eases. 

Symptoms: The animal is in great distress; if it 
is standing its head will hang down and its fore- 
legs will be wide apart and its flanks heaving at 
the rate of one hundred per minute; the mouth will 
be partially open; the eyes are bloodshot; the heart 
beats tumultuously. In some cases there will be 
blood oozing from the nose; the pig soon becomes 
unable to stand and it lies down on its breast with 
its nose resting on the ground; the legs and ears 
are cold, and the mouth hot. If the animal is made 
to rise it will often squeal, but in the majority of 
cases it will not get up ; the pulse is small and indis- 
tinct and the beat is difficult to make out; (which 
may be as many as one hundred and fifty per min- 



108 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

ute); the heart's action is rapid, jerky, disturbed, 
and tumultuous, but takes strength; auscultation 
of the chest is not satisfactorily' made in the pig; 
but in some cases where the animal will lie quiet a 
minute crepitation or a fine sharp crackling sound 
will be heard; this sound ma,y be diffused or it may 
only be detected in portions of the lung, but usually 
no distinct sound will be heard. Congestion of the 
lungs occurring as a result or in connection with 
other diseases, although the symptoms are not to 
all appearances so severe, are generally more fatal 
than when the result of over exertion. 

Terminations: The great majority of cases which 
are severe and acute unless prompt treatment is 
had recourse to will terminate fatally. The condi- 
tion of the congested vessels rapidly causes death 
from asphyxia. Milder cases may terminate in in- 
flammation of the lungs. 

Post Mortem Appearance: In pigs which die of 
this disease the lung tissue will be found greatly 
distended with dark colored fluid blood with occa- 
sionally circumscribed effusion of blood from rup- 
ture of minute and capillary vessels. The lungs are 
swollen and of a darker color than natural and 
their crepitant character is much diminished, al- 
though not altogether gone. Their normal elastic- 
ity and spong}^ texture is somewhat destroyed and 
although heavier than natural, still they will float 
on water. When the surface is cut there will be an 
oozing of blood and if squeezed it will drip as if 
from squeezing a sponge, and it is rendered frothy 
from the entanglement of air. The lining mem- 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. l0<) 

brane through the entire bronchial tubes is red- 
dened and covered with frothy mucus. In no part 
do- we find effusion, save of serous material, the 
characteristic plastic exudation of inflammatory 
action being as yet undeveloped. Both sides of the 
heart, but particularly the right, with the large 
blood vessels proceeding to and from it, are more or 
less full of dark-colored blood, but not coagulated. 
Treatment: As soon as possible give the animal 
a stimulant such as one dram of aromatic spirits 
of ammonia and one dram spirits nitrous 
ether at a dose in a little cold water, and 
repeat in half an hour if necessary; or give from 
one to two tablespoonfuls of good brandy or 
whisky; cover the body with w^arm blankets and 
rub the legs with a little of the compound soap lini- 
ment. If the animal improves keep up the stimu- 
lants for a day or two, but give them less fre- 
quently. Brandy or whisky will be found more use- 
ful in the later stage than the ammonia or ether. 
When relieved feed the pig milk and oatmeal gruel 
for a few days. 

PNEUMONIA (INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS.) 

Pneumonia may be defined as an inflammation 
of the true lung substance and the connective tis- 
sue. This disease attacks all kinds of animals, but 
there are none in which it is so fatal as the hog. 
The reason of this is in a great measure due to not 
detecting the disease early and after it has been 
detected the great difftculty we have in treating it 
properly in the pig. 



no DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

Causes: Season and locality; it is more preva- 
lent in the cold weather than in summer; sudden 
variations of temperature, especially if it is wet; 
particular states of the health, it being more liable 
to attack animals weakened by previous disease. 
It is sometimes the result of catarrh and sore throat 
especially if the animal is exposed to cold and wet 
while suffering from these diseases. It is caused 
by direct irritation, such as medicinal liquids and 
gases w^hich find their way into the bronchial 
tubes and thence into the tissue; from wounds or 
portions of fractured ribs penetrating the sub- 
stance of the lungs; it is also the result of foul air 
and is sometimes caused from the so-called epizoo- 
tic influences or agents and from pulmonary con- 
gestion. 

Symptoms: Pneumonia is usually ushered in 
by a chill, followed by fever, dififlcult short breath- 
ing, cough and, if the animal is forced to move, wull 
show signs of pain and in some cases will squeal. 
Occasionally the symptoms of the disease are pre- 
ceded by general uneasiness, dulness, loss of ap- 
petite, and more or less fever, w^hen, as the disease 
advances, the pulse will increase in frequency and 
will often reach from one hundred and twenty to 
one hundred and fifty per minute. The cough is 
often very troublesome, dry at first, but as the dis- 
ease goes on it will become softer. It is a cough 
which brings no relief to the animal; but when the 
mucus begins to form and the animal can brin2: 
some up it then gets relief. About this period if 
the fever abates the animal moves about and takes 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. m 

a little food, the pulse is less frequent, the breath- 
ing slower and easier, the chances are good for its 
recovery. On the other hand, if the fever persists 
and the pig becomes more restless and the advanc- 
ing temperature which in the early stages of the 
, disease would be one hundred and two to one hun- 
dred and three now jumps up to one hundred and 
five to one hundred and six, and the matter the ani- 
mal coughs up is of a red, rusty color, the eyes 
sunken and the animal very weak, it will likely die. 
The duration of the disease is from eight to four- 
teen days. 

Post Mortem. The general pathological condi- 
tion of the lung tissue is hyperemia and swelling 
with a variable constituted fibrinous exudation, 
chiefl}^ of the ^mall bronchi and air cells, with 
usually a considerable quantity of serum surround- 
ing the outside of the lungs. This is the usual ap- 
pearance of those which die about the sixth or 
eighth day. The second stage, that of exudation, 
red hepatization or red softening, is characterized 
by a deep red, reddish brown or grayish-red color, 
the absence of crepitation under pressure. The dis- 
eased lung is so much increased in density that it 
will sink in water. The grayish color sometimes 
observed is owing to an intermixture of particles 
of black pulmonary matter and to the lighter hue 
of the interlobular tissue, which is occasionally less 
congested than the other parts. In some cases the 
softening is so great that it may be easily torn and 
the fingers may pass through its structure with 
very little resistance. When cut into with a knife it 



112 DISEASES OF THE HOC^. 

somewhat resembles the liver; on this account it is 
termed hepatized. When pressed between the 
fingers a reddish fluid will ooze out The cut sur- 
face of the lung exhibits numberless minute gran- 
ules which are probably the air cells filled with a 
concrete fibrous exudation. In red hepatization 
the bronchial tubes, the blood vessels, and the in- 
terlobular areolar tissue are still obvious to exam- 
ination. The lungs do not collapse upon exposure 
to the atmosphere, as they do in health. In the 
third stage there are two conditions, namely gray 
hepatization and the other abscess. In the former 
the lung is compact and of a gray color, both ex- 
ternally and internally, and when cut into a yellow- 
ish opaque purulent fluid mixed with blood is seen. 
It is much softer than red hepatization and if lifted 
will likely fall to pieces. In the abscess stage the 
lung may be a mass of abscesses or single ones. I 
have seen cases in which one of the lungs was a 
mass of matter held in by the membrane covering 
the lung. If the hepatization is extensive the ani- 
mal usually dies before it has time to break down 
into pus, but if only one lung is affected the animal 
may live long enough for it to do so. Gangrene is 
not a common result of pneumonia in ordinary 
cases, but I have often found the lungs in this con- 
dition in pigs that died from hog cholera or swine 
plague. 

Treatment: In no disease is it more important 
to make a i^roper discrimination in the treatment. 
The measures which would be beneficial in one case 
might cause a fatal termination in another. Ani- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 113 

mals of a vigorous constitution want reducing med- 
icine, such as a dose of epsom salts, one to two 
ounces, and follow this by giving two to three drops 
of the fluid extract of veratrum viride every two or 
three hours, if it does not cause vomiting. There is 
no medicine in the materia medica which I find so 
useful as veratrum viride in pneumonia in the pig 
if it be in a vigorous condition. To prevent vomit- 
ing give from six to ten drops of laudanum a short 
time before giving the veratrum. Very often if the 
case is seen early it will recover without any 
further treatment, but, should it prove obsti- 
nate, it will be proper to resort to calo- 
mel; two to three grains of calomel should be given 
with one grain of opium twice a day. It will be 
found useful to add half a grain of ipecacuanha to 
the above; should it not agree with the stomach 
leave it out or reduce the amount to one fourth of a 
grain. It is important to push the mercury until 
the gums become sore, then stop. In the declining 
stage of the disease expectorants should be given, 
and nothing will be found more useful for this pur- 
pose than the compound syrup of squill in doses 
of from twenty to thirty drops two or three times a 
day. If the breath should become fetid the spirits 
of turpentine in twenty to thirty drops three or four 
times a day should be used. Should the animal be- 
come weak give stimulants and tonics; carbonate 
of ammonia in five to ten grains made into a pill 
three or four times a day will be beneficial, two 
tablespoonf uls of whisky and two to four grains of 
quinine, also cod liver oil, brandy and eggs. Feed 



114 DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

on anything the animal will take, such as new milk 
and a little otmeal gruel and all the cold water it 
wants. When gangrene sets in, which can be 
easily known by the fetor of the breath and a dis- 
charge of a dirty, foul-smelling matter from the 
nose, treatment is useless in the pig. 

PLEURISY (INFLAfinATION OF THE PLEURA.) 

This is an inflammation of the pleura which lines 
the cavity of the chest. This is one of the most fre- 
quent of the inflammatory diseases and the pig 
comes in for its share of it, as it is a common occur- 
rence to find, on removing the lungs of a pig that 
had been in good condition and had been killed, a 
part of the membrane adhering to the walls of the 
chest, caused at some period more or less remote by 
an attack of pleurisy more or less severe. A pig 
mav be affected to a slight extent and no notice be 
taken of it. It is only when the animal has a severe 
attack that our attention is drawn to it by the 
pig being off its food and appearing sick. 

Causes of pleurisy : Cold, wet weather in the fall 
and spring and the pigs having wet beds to sleep in, 
cold east winds and the pigs not having a comfort- 
able place to rest and get warmed. It is" also a re- 
sult of some other disease such as rheumatism and 
also from an injury such as a kick from a horse, 
etc. Some seasons it is a very common disease and 
hundreds of pigs die from it and its true nature has 
not been known by the owner of the animal. 

Symptoms: The disease usually commences 
with a chill and a sharp pain in the side, which 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 115 

often causes the animal to walk lame on the foreleg 
of the aff'ected side, or if both sides are affected the 
animal will move stiffly. There is a short spasmodic 
congh causing much distress. The breathing is 
fast and short and the abdominal muscles are 
brought into play to help to expel the air, as the 
pig keeps the walls of its chest as quiet as possible 
while suffering from this disease. The pulse is 
fast, small and hard and the temperature will be 
elevated, indicating fever. If the ribs are pressed 
upon the animal will evince pain and may squeal. 
It is not easy to judge the amount of pain a pig may 
suff'er by pressure, as they will sometimes squeal 
on pressure when there is nothing the matter with 
them; still when other symptoms are, present this 
one will assist. > When there is much fever the pig 
will refuse its food, but may drink water. In bad 
cases it is very restless; it moves about with its 
back arched and stiff, and when it lies down it will 
be on its sternum. If the pig can be kept quiet and 
the ear applied to the chest in the early stages of 
the disease a crackling or crepitating sound will be 
heard at each movement of the lungs. If the acute 
stage is not relieved it goes on to the second or sub- 
acute; usually at this stage of the disease there is 
an outpouring of fluid into the cavity of the chest; 
as this increases the pain diminishes, but the 
breathing becomes more labored and difficult 
(dyspnea) and as the cavity fills up diminishing the 
breathing space the animal soon dies from suffoca- 
tion. When effusion takes place the pain is re- 
duced and the animal may appear better for a day 



116 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

or two, but soon a low form of fever sets in and if 
the animal is not relieved will die. On applying 
the ear to the affected side or sides the friction 
sound first heard will have disappeared and we 
may be able to detect a light splashing sound and a 
partial or complete loss of respiratory murmur, 
which may enable us to detect how high the effu- 
sion has risen. Very frequently there will be flakes 
of lymph, and sometimes false membrane will form. 
I have seen some cases that have died when one 
could collect handf uls of this false product 

Termination: Simple pleurisy of one side usual- 
ly terminates favorably if treated properly and in 
the early stages. When effusion has taken place 
the chances of cure are less, but may generally be 
effected in cases where it is not complicated with 
other diseases. When it occurs in the course of 
febrile affections or in pigs debilitated from some 
other cause it almost always increases the danger 
and often hastens the fatal issue. Pleurisy is often 
present in cases of hog cholera and no doubt it 
helps on the fatal termination of that disease. 

Treatment : First — Give from one to two ounces 
sulphate of magnesia in half a pint of cold water 
and follow this with fluid extract of veratrum 
viride one to two drops mixed with fifteen to twenty 
drops of tincture of hyoscyamus every four hours 
until the pulse becomes softer; after the physic has 
operated if the cough is troublesome and the ani- 
mal seems to be in pain give one grain each of pow- 
dered opium and ipecacuanha in a pill every four 
hours; also give from ten to fifteen grains of nitrate 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. H? 

of potassium three or four times a day to cool the 
system and keep the kidneys active. If the inflam- 
mation should continue after the second day com- 
bine two grains of calomel with the opium and 
ipecacuanha. After the decline of the fever should 
effusion still remain give syrup of squills with digi- 
talis, a dram of the former and two drops of the 
fluid extract of the latter at a dose three times a day 
and apply a cantharidal blister to the sides. If the 
system is in a depleted condition it will be neces- 
sary to give tonics and stimulants; nothing is bet- 
ter for this purpose than tincture chloride of iron in 
dram doses with two to four grains of quinine three 
times a day in a little syrup; if the cough should 
continue give the opium as above. I have found 
benefit from the use of the compound syrup of 
squill in thirty drop doses three times a day. Also 
give iodide of potassium in ten grain doses between 
times. The animal's strength should be supported 
by milk, eggs and whisky; the whisky acts as a 
stimulant and aids digestion. 

EMPHYSEMA OF THE LUNGS. 

This name has been applied to that affection of 
the lungs in which their tissue is morbidly dis- 
tended with air. There are two varieties of this 
derangement, one in which the air cells are dis- 
tended, and the other in which the air has escaped 
from the cells into extravesicular or interlobular 
areolar tissue or upon the surface of the lung be- 
neath the pleura. This complaint is not uncom- 



118 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

men in the pig; but is not often noticed until after 
death. 

Causes: Emphysema is often the result of over 
exertion as when a pig is i3ursued by a dog or man 
the increased amount of air taken in overfills the 
air cells, vrhich distends them to such a degree that 
they may ruj)ture and thus allow the air to extrav- 
asate into the lung tissue, or the air cells do not 
contract to their natural size. It is also the result 
of lung disease. 

Symptoms: Slight emphysema cannot be de- 
tected in the pig until after death, but when so 
considerable as to produce observable effects it is 
always attended with dyspnea (difiacult breathing), 
which is very distressing to the pig and is often 
associated with thumps, or rather it is often mis- 
taken for thumps. Pigs often die suddenly from 
emphysema. Cough is sometimes present; during 
severe paroxysms there may be an expectoration of 
a clear fluid or it may be frothy; the animal will 
stand during the intervals of the paroxysms with 
its mouth open and turning its head to one side 
with the nose pointed upwards. In post mortems 
that have been made of animals that died 
of emphysema we find that the lungs do 
not collapse on opening the chest, but 
sometimes on the contrary expand, as if 
previously compressed b}^ the ribs and dia- 
phragm. This is the result of the inelastic or rigid 
condition of the membrane which forms the air 
cells. In consequence of this rigidity they do not 
contract upon the air which they contain and there- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. Hg 

fore remain distended. The lungs are very light and 
do not sink in water as in the sound state. It cre- 
pitates less upon pressure, has a firm feeling, and 
X^its under the finger. The surface of the lung will 
be found uneven on account of some parts of it be- 
ing more distended than others. Some of these pro- 
jections may be single and not larger than a pea; 
that these are distended air cells is proved by the 
circumstances that they cannot be moved from 
place to place under the pleura by pressure. When 
a diseased lung is cut into the air cells are found to 
be in various degrees enlarged generally to about 
the size of a millet seed, sometimes to that of a 
hazel nut and sometimes larger. The small ones 
are merely dilated vesicles, the larger are pro- 
duced by the rupture of the intervening coats and 
the gradual absorption of the torn walls of the 
cells. The dilatation may affect only one or a feAV 
cells or may occupy isolated spots as single lobules; 
for example, while others remain unchanged or 
may extend to large and continuous portions of the 
parenchyma it may be confined to one lung or both 
may be affected. When only one lung is affected 
it will be found to be so much larger than the other 
that it will displace the mediastinum and heart 
The dilatation most frequently affects the anterior 
and its borders than elsewhere. The edges of the 
tubes are sometimes fringed with the projecting 
dilated vesicles of different sizes. The small bron- 
chial tubes are usually also dilated in the emphyse- 
matous parts. In consequence of a diminished sup- 
ply of blood to the affected parts of the lung it will 



120 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

have a whitish appearance which will contrast 
with the healthy portion. The lung is also less 
moist than in health. 

Treatment: Keep such an animal as quiet as 
possible, and in the majority of cases it will take 
on fat. If the paroxysms of dyspnea are severe give 
from one to two drams of Hoffman's anodyne in a 
little cold water every half hour until relieved, or 
twenty to thirty drops of tincture of opium in a 
little Avater every hour until relieved. 

CHRONIC COUGH. 

Pigs are very subject to cough, which in a great 
many cases does not seem to affect the health of 
the animal. 

Causes: Cough in pigs may arise from several 
causes, worms, indigestion, disordered liver and 
irritation of the membrane of the throat. If a num- 
ber of pigs are affected with a cough at the same 
time it will only be a symptom of some other dis- 
ease. If possible find the cause and remove it. If 
this cannot be done give the pig a dose of epsom 
salts and keep it in a warm, comfortable place, and 
if this does not relieve it give a teaspoonful of 
syrup of squill at a dose three times a day. If 
worms are suspected give one half oz. fluid extract 
of spigelia and senna at a dose every four hours 
until it purges. In cases of chronic cough caused 
by indigestion give a dose of salts and after it has 
operated give ten grains of sulphate of iron, ten 
grains of gentian and five grains of nux vomica at 
a dose in its food twice a day for two weeks. An- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 121 

other useful remedy is Fowler's solution of arsenic 
given in five drop doses three times a day in the 
food and continued for five or six weeks. Tar given 
in teaspoonful doses in the food three times a day 
is also good and as it cannot do any harm it is 
worth a trial. 

BLEEDING FROM THE LUNG (HEMOPTYSIS.) 

This is not a common disease in the pig and 
the only cases that have come under my observa- 
tion have been caused by over exertion and usually 
have resulted in death ; therefore, I look ui3on it as 
a very dangerous symptom in this animal. I have 
no doubt but that cases may occur in pigs from 
causes similar to those of the human family. 

Causes: Over exertion from being driven too 
fast, fighting w^ith each other, being kicked by 
horses, violent squealing and severe coughing, 
falls, etc. It may also be caused by disease of the 
air passages or the lung substance, bronchitis or 
pneumonia; in such cases the blood vessels have 
been w^eakened, and the extra quantity of blood in 
the parts causes the blood to extravasate into the 
lung tissue and air cells. 

Symptoms : The blood may issue both from the 
nostrils and mouth of the pig, but most commonly 
from the nostrils. It is usually liquid, florid and 
more or less frothy, owing to the admixture of air. 
If the quantity issuing is great it will be less 
frothy. There will be more or less cough and if 
severe there will be a feeling of suffocation. If 



122 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

bronchitis should be present there may be more or 
less mucus mixed with the blood. 

Treatment: The pig should be kept as quiet as 
possible. It often does more harm than good to 
confine a pig to give it medicine in such cases, and 
a slight hemorrhage is often beneficial to the ani- 
mal in relieving congestion. If the hemorrhage 
should be severe give hypodermic injections of the 
fluid extract of ergot of rye in two dram doses; re- 
peat every hour until stopped. Other remedies 
which are used with success in man cannot be of 
much service in the pig. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 123 



CHAPTER X. 
DISEASES OF THE HEART. 

Disease of the heart is of very rare occurrence 
as an independent disease in the pig, as their life 
is short and the great majority of them are sent to 
market before it has time to develop; but the heart 
is very frequently affected in conjunction with 
other diseases. Although I have had no well 
marked cases of this derangement in the pig and 
there has been nothing written on this subject, yet 
I have no doubt but that some of the sudden deaths 
which sometimes occur in the hog are due to some 
form of heart disease. The animal is usually in 
such apparent good health up to the time of death 
that no warning is given and it is only after mak- 
ing a post mortem examination that the true nature 
of the disease is discovered. 

PERICARDITIS 
(INFLAMMATION OF THE PERICARDIUM.) 

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the capsule 
surrounding the heart and reflected over it Endo- 
carditis is an inflammation of the membrane lining 
the cavities of the heart. Carditis is an inflamma- 
tion of the substance of the heart itself. As it is im- 
possible to diagnose the one from the other in the 



124 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

pig I shall describe only one. I have met, in sev- 
eral cases in the pig while examining for other dis- 
eases, undoubted signs that the animal had had an 
attack of pericarditis at some former time, and 
there is no doubt but that at times when a pig 
shows signs of being a little off it may sometimes 
be this disease. It is often associated with such 
diseases as rheumatism and pleurisy. 

Causes of Pericarditis: The most common causes 
are exposure to cold, direct violence, muscular ex- 
ertion, such as running when a pig is fat and heavy, 
rheumatism, pleurisy and pneumonia and an im- 
pure condition of the blood, also hog cholera. 

Symptoms: The attack is usually ushered in 
with a chill, which is often repeated (that is, in se- 
vere cases), and always followed by fever. The 
pulse is the most important sj^mptom. In the earh^ 
stages of the disease it is usually full and some- 
what irregular and as the disease advances it is ex- 
ceedingly so, and on this account it can be distin- 
guished from other inflammatory diseases. The 
different conditions of the pulse at different stages 
of the disease may be considered as indicative of 
the condition of the cardiac muscles, which are at 
first irritated into excessive action as shown by the 
strong, full, sharp, irregular pulse, subsequently 
weakened but still irregular, and lastly exhausted 
by excitement, so that the pulse becomes more and 
more feeble till the close. There will be more or 
less difficulty in the breathing, loss of appetite, 
although the animal may be thirsty. In some cases 
there will be severe pain indicated by the animal 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 125 

being restless or in some cases squealing. Little 
can be obtained from physical signs in the pig and 
we have to content ourselves with the other symp- 
toms; but no great mistake can be made if we treat 
the inflammation and fever on general principles. 
Post mortem examination reveals effusion in the 
cavity; this usually begins about the third day and 
if the disease is not checked it increases until the 
end. There is also a fibrinous matter or lymph 
which is at first generally in the form of a soft, deli- 
cate film over the surface of the membrane from 
which it is easily separated; by degrees this be- 
comes thicker and thicker over the surface of the 
membrane until in some cases it will be found to be 
an inch in thickness and somewhat hard. The oc- 
currence of such changes must add. greatly to the 
danger of the disease and indicates the need of 
prompt application of efficient treatment before it 
reaches this point. The changes which take place 
are not always the same. In some violent cases the 
disease has been known to run its course in a very 
short time and to terminate in forty-eight hours. 
In other cases the inflammation terminates in a 
few days before the effusion takes place. Some- 
times mild cases may last for several weeks and 
the animal recover. When it is likely to prove fatal 
the animal becomes very weak and staggers about, 
refuses food, the pulse is small and fast — from one 
hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty. 
There is usually some anasarca between the fore 
legs; an animal in this condition is liable to die at 
any moment from loss of heart power. 



126 DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

Treatment: In the early stage of the disease 
give from ten to fifteen grains of calomel at a dose, 
followed in three or four hours with from one to 
two ounces of castor oil. This will often cut the 
disease short. After the bowels have been freely 
acted on and the fever continues with a hard, 
strong pulse, give two to three drops of the fluid 
extract of veratrum viride every four hours until 
the pulse becomes softer and less frequent. Ten 
grains of nitrate of potassium given in a little 
water three times a day will be of service in keep- 
ing the kidnej^s active. If the pig should be in 
much pain give one grain each of opium and ipe- 
cacuanha three or four times a day in pill. If the 
bowels should become confined give one half to 
one ounce of sulphate of magnesia. After the 
fourth day the animal should get ten grains of 
iodide of potassium three times a day and if the 
heart is very irregular give two to three drops of 
the fluid extract of digitalis three times daily. If 
the animal becomes weak its strength should be 
supported by stimulants, such as carbonate of am- 
monia in from five to ten grain doses three times a 
day or whisky and milk. During the disease give 
the pig all the sweet milk it will take, with some 
roots or fresh clover, if it can be obtained. A little 
oatmeal gruel will also be beneficial. Keep the pig 
in a comfortable place. 

HYPERTROPHY AND DILATION OF THE HEART. 

Hypertrophy and dilatation of the heart are not 
readily detected in the pig while it is alive. I have 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 127 

never detected a case of it. A pig may have this 
trouble and still take on fat, and as it is a disease 
wliich is slow in producing bad symptoms, the pig 
is sent to market before it would likely be detected. 
I have seen some hearts of pigs which were killed 
for pork and also died from other diseases which 
had enlarged or dilated hearts. If we did detect 
such a case treatment would be of no service. 

FUNCTIONAL OR NERVOUS DISEASES OF THE HEART. 

The only one in the pig which will come under 
this head is palpitation of the heart (thumps). This 
term is given w^hen the pulsations of the heart are 
inordinate and can be perceived by the observer. 
It is a very common and fatal disease in the pig. 

Causes: Palpitation is rather the result of a 
disease than a disease itself. It is usually caused 
by an unhealthy state of the blood which may be 
either too rich and abundant, causing plethora, or 
have too much water or be otherwise depraved, as 
in anemia. The true causes are therefore such as 
produce either of those conditions. It may also in 
some cases be caused by a deranged state of the 
stomach. It is frequently the result of rheumatic 
irritation affecting the heart through the nerves. 
Worms in the intestines will sometimes produce 
it. The most frequent cause of this disease in the 
pig is a morbid condition of the system, the result 
of feeding too much corn or food deficient in nitro- 
gen. 

Symptoms: The pulsations are increased in fre- 
quency or in force or both; they are sometimes 



128^ DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

regular, but more frequently irregular; the pulse 
partakes of the same qualities. The pig is seen to 
stand and its body is jerked forwards and back- 
wards every second or so. In some cases it is very 
slight and in others very violent; the sound is loud 
and can be heard at some distance. It sounds as if 
some one was striking the pig on the inside, caus- 
ing the whole body to shake. I have caught the hog- 
so affected to try and find out whether it was the 
heart or the diaphragm that was affected, but the 
animal struggled so that an examination could not 
be satisfactorily made; but I have no doubt but 
that in a number of cases both the heart and dia- 
phragm are implicateil in the affection. It is not of 
much importance, as the treatment would be the 
same in both cases. 

Effects: If this disease is not soon checked in- 
jurious effects are sure to result from the irregular 
supply of blood consequent on this affection. After 
death there is usually found considerable effusion 
of frothy blood around the heart and between the 
lungs and diaphragm, and the other tissues and 
organs of the body are changed in appearance; 
they are soft and flabby, with more or less con- 
gestion, especially is this the case on the surface 
of the lungs. 

Treatment: I have found a very successful 
treatment for this disease. In the early stages give 
one to two ounces of epsom salts or one to two 
ounces of castor oil; follow this by giving from fif- 
teen to twenty drops each of tincture of opium and 
digitalis every two hours until the animal is re- 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 129 

lieved, and in the great majority of cases this can 
be done in from twelve to eighteen hours. In severe 
cases the dose can be increased or given oftener. 
Hoffman's anodyne in dram doses given in a little 
cold water every two hours in cases where the ani- 
mal is much exhausted will be found very useful. 
If this cannot be obtained give two drams aromatic 
spirits of ammonia every hour in a little cold w^ater. 
As soon as the pig will take food feed it on new 
milk and a little oatmeal gruel until it regains its 
usual health. 



CHAPTER XL 
DISEASES OF THE ARTERIES AND VEINS. 

These are of very rare occurrence in the pig and 
as they usually take a long time to injure the health 
of this animal it can be fattened and sent to the 
market before it causes any trouble; therefore, I 
will not take up the reader's time describing them. 



130 DISEASES OF THE HOa 



CHAPTEE XII. 
APOPLEXY. 

This derangement is almost entirely confined to 
pigs that are too fat and are getting too much to 
eat 

Symptoms: If the animal is eating it will stop 
suddenly, appear restless, stupid in its movements; 
the eyes become prominent and blood-shot; it 
foams at the mouth, falls over and may die in a 
fcAV minutes; others may fall over apparently dead, 
and in a few moments revive and get well. 

Treatment: Bleeding from the veins of the legs 
is recommended. Tie a string tight above the knee 
of the forelegs; the vein on the inside of the leg 
will be seen to fill up; then take a sharp knife and 
make an opening sufiicient to allow a free stream 
of blood; serve the other one in the same way. 
After removing one and a half pints of blood, pin 
up the wound in the skin. Press a small pin 
through the skin at the edges of the wound and tie 
a thread around the ends of the pin, thus closing 
the wound. Let the pins remain in until the skin 
is healed. Hogs that are over fat and show an}- 
signs of dullness should get a dose of epsom salts 
■ — two to three ounces — and be fed sparingly for a 
few days, until the dulness wears off. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 131 

PLETHORA. 

This is a morbid increase of blood beyond the 
wants of the system. It is not, however, a mere 
augmentation of volume in the circulating fluid 
that is entitled to this name. This may result from 
an excess of the watery ingredient and is not in- 
compatible with the state of the animal which is 
opposite to that of plethora. There must be a mor- 
bid increase of those constituents of the blood upon 
which its nutritive and stimulating properties de- 
pend and to which it owes its peculiar character, 
such as the red corpuscles, fibrin and albumen. 
There may or may not be any increase of bulk. It 
is not necessary that there should be an absolute 
increase of the blood in order to the existence of 
the disease. The quantity may remain precisely 
the same and yet if the wants of the system for the 
support of its various functions should diminish 
the phenomena of plethora may result; for it is the 
loss of balance between the supply and consump- 
tion, the former being in excess, that constitutes 
the affection. (Wood). 

Causes of Plethora: A loss of equilibrium be- 
tween the supplying and expending processes is 
the immediate cause of plethora. Digestion and 
absorption are relatively more vigorous than nu- 
trition and secretion. Thus feeding pigs more than 
they ought to be fed will produce this effect, espe- 
cially if the animal has little exercise. In some 
cases digestion and absorption may be healthy 
while nutritioF and secretion may be in a deranged 



132 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

state. Some animals have a peculiar tendency to 
the oyerproduction of blood and become plethoric 
without any assignable cause. 

Symptoms: Pigs affected with this disease are 
stupid, lie around, and if made to rise will show 
signs of vertigo, stagger and in some cases fall. 
There is often palpitation of the heart and op- 
pressed breathing; the lips, tongue and conjunc- 
tiva are red and sometimes somewhat swollen; 
bleeding from the nose sometimes takes place. I 
have known some few cases in which the pig was 
very fat and at the same time affected with this 
disease in which the animal lost the use of its legs. 
The pulse is full and somewht accelerated. 

Treatment: Regulate the diet. Give milk and 
oatmeal in small quantities and turn the pig out 
so that it will get an opportunity^ to move about, 
and in some cases it should be compelled to move 
around for a short time each day in order to stimu- 
late secretion. Give one to two ounces of epsom 
salts and after this operates give bicarbonate of 
potassium in two dram doses three times a day. If 
the animal loses the use of its legs they should be 
rubbed several times a day. 

ANEMIA. 

Anemia is a morbid deficiency or poverty of the 
blood, caused by lessening of the nutritive con- 
stituents of the blood and an increase of the watery 
parts. Young pigs get into this state without any 
apparent cause. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 133 

Symptoms : There will be puffy swellings around 
the eyelids, between the wings of the lower jaw 
and between the fore legs. The animal becomes 
unthrifty, although it may eat well. The mucous 
membrane of the mouth and eyelids becomes pale. 
The pig is very often troubled with a cough and a 
discharge from the nose. I have seen young pigs 
affected by this 'derangement have fits and when 
the cause of the disease was removed and the dis- 
ease itself properly treated the fits disappeared. 
There is no doubt but that the nervous system suf- 
fers more or less from anemia. 

Treatment : Remove the cause if possible; this is 
often accomplished by giving a complete change 
of diet. It will be advisable to give one to two 
ounces of epsom salts or one to two ounces of castor 
oil to clear out the stomach and intestines, then 
give from ten drops to one dram of the tincture 
chloride of iron in the food three times a day. A 
dessert spoonful of cod liver oil three times a day 
is very useful. Allow the pigs to run out This is 
usually all the treatment that is necessary. 



134 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTEK XIII. 

PURULENT INFECTIONS OF THE BLOOD. 

By this is meant a diseased state of the blood at- 
tended with a low form of fever dependent on the 
absorption of poisonous material from the decom- 
position of tissue into pus* This sometimes takes 
place after castration or other wounds that the ani- 
mal may receive. There is a tendency in this dis- 
ease for abscesses to form in various parts of the 
body; they are especially liable to form on the 
lungs and liver. In pigs which have died of this 
disease I have found a number of abscesses, vary- 
ing from the size of a pea to that of a walnut; 
these abscesses may be found in any part of the 
body, even in the muscles. These purulent collec- 
tions are usually surrounded by more or less in- 
flammation. There is also a tendency to a low form 
of erysipelatous inflammation in various parts of 
the body, ending frequently in gangrenous ab- 
scesses, which usually terminate fatally. The 
symptoms of this disease are not well marked at 
first in the pig. The animal refuses food and has 
shivering fits; it lies around and does not want to 
get up; if it does so it will act stupidly, breathe 
fast, the pulse will be fast and weak, the tempera- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 135 

ure will be from one hundred aud five to one hun- 
dred and six; this low form of fever may be all 
that is noticeable, but if these symptoms should 
take place after an operation or an injury there 
need be no mistake. In some cases there will aj)- 
pear abscesses of the external part of the body hav- 
ing a tendency to gangrene, or they may heal, but 
otJiers will make their appearance and so on until 
the animal dies. 
<k Treatment: This should be of a stimulant and 
tonic nature, such as good whisky or brandy or 
carbonate of ammonia in from five to ten grain 
doses three or four times a day. The tincture chlo- 
ride of iron in dram doses well diluted three times 
a day is one of the best. Nitro-hydrochloric acid in 
doses of from ten to fifteen drops well diluted three 
times a day is also good. The strength should be 
kept up by giving new milk and eggs beaten up 
and mixed with a little whisky and the pig kept in a 
dry, comfortable place. If abscesses should form 
they should be opened as soon as ripe and dressed 
with peroxide of hydrogen one part, water two 
parts. If the sores become gangrenous apply a 
little terchloride of antimony to destroy the un- 
healthy parts; then use oxide of zinc one ounce, 
vaseline tw^o ounces ; use a little twice a day. 



136 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
ANTHRAX OF THE PIG. 

Anthrax. There are a number of diseases of the 
pig which come under this head, and all are of a 
carbuncular nature; that is, it is a constitutional 
fever at first affecting the finer tissues of the body 
and finally locating on some particular i^art, caus- 
ing either large swellings or pustules on the part 
affected, and if there is a tendency to the disease 
prevailing swine are sure to come in for their share 
of it. In this affection the blood is darker than in 
health, and the name "charbon'' has been given to 
it by some writers. This condition is caused by a 
bacillus calledthe^BacillusAnthracis,'^ a very large 
bacterium. This vegetable organism gains entry 
into the blood, and there multiplies by rapid repro- 
duction. It is imagined that it wars with the red 
corpuscles for the possession of oxygen, and soon 
all the higher tissues become implicated. It is said 
that heat and moisture are favorable for their de- 
velopment and that the disease is more common 
in the spring and fall when the weather is warm 
and moist. Pasteur made a number of experi- 
ments and came to the conclusion that the bacilli 
gained entraiice into the system with the food, and 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 137 

wounds about the mouth were the points of entry. 
A number of experiments 1 made with these bacilli 
were by no means satisfactory, unless injected 
directly into the tissue. I have seen outbreaks of 
this disease in cold weather when everything was 
in an unfavorable condition for the development 
of the bacilli. I consider, from what has been done, 
that it has been proven that the bacilli will cause 
the disease, but how it gains entrance into the 
animal body has not been satisfactorily proven. 
It will make its appearance on a farm where 
everything is favorable for the development of 
the bacilli, and again at other times it will appear 
in a very virulent form where everything is kept 
in the best hygienic condition. The study of this 
disease and the manner in which the outbreaks 
take place are very conilicting. There is room for 
much more work in this line. There are four forms 
of this disease in the pig. First, aphthous fever; 
this form of anthrax commences with loss of appe- 
tite, uneasiness, trembling, anxious and staring 
look, hot mouth and an increased flow of saliva. 
Early in the attack pustules appear on the inside 
of the lip and margins of the snout; they are not 
numerous, but there is considerable inflammation 
surrounding them which causes the parts to swell. 
The vesicles are at first white, then change to a 
brownish color or in some cases black. They gen- 
erally extend up the nose, which is somewhat 
swollen, giving the animal an ugly appearance. 
Shortly the vesicles burst and the tissue beneath 
sloughsj leaving more or less of si, cavity resembling 



138 DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

an ulcer. At other times there may be a slight ele- 
vation of a fungous nature. I have seen a few eases 
in which the tissue sloughed clean from the bone. 
The breath becomes fetid, usually a foul-smelling 
diarrhea sets in, mixed with blood, followed by 
great prostration, the animal dies in from twenty- 
four to forty-eight hours from the beginning of the 
attack; some feAV cases may last longer. The dis- 
ease is contagious and all the well pigs should be 
removed at once from the affected ones and from 
the locality. All those which die should be burned 
or buried deep, with a good coating of fresh lime 
over them. 

Treatment: In the early stage give one to two 
ounces of epsom salts at a dose, this to be follow^ed 
by ten to fifteen drops of the oil of gaultheria in a 
little syrup or sweet oil or a solution of gum arable 
three or four times a day. If the animal is weak, 
do not give the salts, but give the oil of gaullheria 
and one dram of tincture chloride of iron three or 
four times daily. If there is foul-smelling diarrhea 
I have found great benefit by giving ten grain 
doses of boracic acid, three or six times a day; I 
have given as much as two drams in divided doses 
m twenty-four hours; it is best given in a table- 
spoonful of sweet oil or cotton seed oil; if the ani- 
mal seems much distressed one to two grains of 
powdered opium can be added to the acid. The 
mouth and affected parts should be washed several 
times a day with peroxide of hydrogen (fifteen vol- 
umes), one part, water two parts. ^Yhen the pus- 
tule sloughs apply a little terchloride of antimony 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 139 

to it to destroy the diseased tissue; it can be re- 
peated every third day if necessary. I have had 
uood success from this method of treatment. The 
pig should be fed on milk and if it will not take it 
it should be fed with a little milk and beaten eggs, 
with a spoonful of good whisky in it to help diges- 
tion. 

NECK ANTHRAX. 

This form of anthrax is characterized by an 
eruj)tion of boils which appear on the back of the 
neck over the parotid glands below the ear. The 
bristles on the affected parts stand erect; they are 
dry and stiff, and if touched or pulled the pig will 
squeal with pain; the skin is discolored, usually 
of a purple tint; there is high fever, loss of appe- 
tite, thirst, grinding the teeth, and a hot clammy 
mouth; there is difficulty in swallowing and op- 
pressed breathing, which would indicate sore 
throat; the affected parts usually slough, erysipe- 
las sets in and the animal generally dies about the 
ninth or tenth day. 

Treatment: Give one to two ounces epsom salts 
to cool the system ; then give five to eight drops of 
the strong nitro-muriatic acid at a dose diluted in 
a wineglassful of water three or four times a day, 
continue this for three days, then give two to four 
grains of quinine and two tablespoonfuls of whisky 
in a little w ater three times a day for two days, 
then give from twenty to thirty drops of tincture 
chloride of iron at a dose in water three times a 
day. Bathe the affected parts three times a day 



140 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

with a lotion made by mixing one half ounce each 
of acetate of lead, sulphate of zinc and carbolic 
acid in a quart of soft water. Feed the pig on oat 
meal and milk. If this form of treatment is faith- 
full}^ carried out a great man}- of the affected ani- 
mals will recover. 

QANGRLNOUS Ei^YSlPELAS. 

This is another of the anthrax diseases which 
affect swine; it has been called ''wild lire'' in the 
Old World. This derangement begins with a low 
form of fever, the animal appears dull, does not 
like to w^alk or stand, but lies buried in the straw 
or anything it can get into; the temperature is 
high, the pulse fast and weak, and the breathing 
quick and short; red spots appear on the breast, 
belly and inside of the legs, and often cause swell- 
ing of the skin, and later on it becomes dry and 
loose, as if it was much too large for the pig, and 
crackles on pressure. In some cases the greater 
part of the skin becomes affected; it will first be 
red, then become purple, and some parts in the 
later stages of the disease may be black in spots. 
In others it forms ridges and cracks. The hair 
drops out in patches and the animal soon becomes 
weak and cannot stand on its hind legs, and usually 
dies in a w^eek or ten days from the beginning of 
the attack. 

Treatment : In the early part of the disease give 
ten grains each of aloes and calomel at a dose in a 
little gruel. If this does not cause purging in ten 
or twelve hours repeat the dose. Follow this by 



DISEASES OF THE tlOG. 141 

giving twenty to forty drops of the syrup iodide of 
iron in a little syrup three times a day, also give 
four grains of quinine in a little whisky and water 
twice a day for two days. In the early stage of this 
disease the skin should be kept wet with a lotion 
composed of acetate of lead one ounce, water one 
quart; when the skin becomes dry and cracks rub 
it once a day with an ointment made by mixing 
two ounces oxide of zinc with four ounces of vase- 
line. Feed as directed in the former. The pig 
should get all the cold water it can drink in all 
cases of fever. 

GANGRENOUS ANGINA. 

This form is common in the pig, its principal 
seat being the throat and is characterized by a diffi- 
culty in swallowing and breathing, with a wheez- 
ing sound; the tongue often swells and becomes of 
a dark purple or of a bluish black color, "black 
tongue," there is usually a painful swelling on the 
outside of the throat, sometimes extending down 
between the fore legs. If the skin is white it will 
be changed to red and later on dark. As the dis- 
ease progresses the breathing becomes more diffi- 
cult, the tongue may swell to such a size as to 
' cause suffocation. 

Treatment: If the animal can swallow give it 
one to two ounces of epsom salts; follow this by 
giving five to eight drops of the strong nitro- 
muriatic acid w^ell diluted three or four times a 
day. If the tongue is much swollen take half an 
ounce of acetate of lead and one ounce tincture of 



142 DISEASES OE THE HOG. 

opium and mix in a quart of water, shake up well, 
then take a piece of sponge and tie a cord to it, wet 
this sponge with a little of the lotion and press it 
well back on the tongue, let it remain for a minute 
then withdraw and repeat, and in this way we can 
sometimes succeed in relieving the swelling. I 
have saved the life of several pigs by continuing 
this plan of bathing for several hours. It is good 
practice to inject into the swelling on the outside 
a lotion composed of peroxide of hydrogen, one 
part to four of water. This is a powerful antisep- 
tic and will sometimes stop the process of the dis- 
ease. In treating the above diseases it should 
always be borne in mind that if any of the matter 
from the affected animal gets into the blood of man 
he runs a great risk of contracting the disease. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 143 



CHAPTER XV. 

SKIN DISEASE. 

The skin on the animal's body serves as a pro- 
tection to the soft structures beneath it, also to 
prevent noxious materials from passing into the 
tissue beneath it; it also allows the escape of waste 
substances from the body. There is very little per- 
spiration exudes through the pores of the hog's skin 
and therefore this animal suffers from heat and 
seeks the mud puddle or water hole on a hot day 
to cool himself. If a pig is driven fast on a hot day 
it will be seen to open its mouth and protrude its 
tongue in order to cool off. On this account pigs 
should be sheltered from the heat of the sun and 
if possible should have a good clean mud puddle to 
wallow in; what is meant by clean mud is where 
the water in it is fresh, not stagnant or of a yellow- 
ish green color; such muddy pools are full of mi- 
crobes which may in some cases find their way into 
the animaFs body and cause disease. Still, from 
practical experience, I think the heat of the sun 
will do more harm to the health of the hog than 
wallowing in a stagnant pool. If from disease of 
the skin or other causes the pores should become 
blocked up the animal is liable to suffer more or 



Jj4 DISEASES OF TIIE HOa 

less from the effects of the effete matters being, 
penned ujj in the system, and therefore valuable 
sows and boars should have their skins thoroughly 
cleaned occasionally, thus preventing disease and 
keeping off vermin. 

CANKER OF THE NOSE AND FACE (SORE NOSE.) 

This is a form of skin disease which usually 
affects the nose first and by degrees spreads up the 
face and sometimes over the ears and in patches 
on the body. 

Causes: It is the result of a parasite which re- 
sembles that of mange, but seems to have poison- 
ous properties. As it spreads the part becomes of 
a cankerous nature, causing constitutional sj^mp- 
toms and death. It is not as yet known where this 
parasite originates, as I have found it affecting 
pigs where the sanitary conditions were good. I 
have made a number of experiments to find the 
origin of the parasite, but have found nothing sat- 
isfactory. 

Symptoms: The first thing noticed is a contrac- 
tion of the skin which wrinkles, giving the nose a 
short, stubby appearance. The animal rubs its 
nose on the earth, snuffles and runs as if it wanted 
to get away from something. By degrees it breaks 
out in sores, which may extend up to the eyes and 
ears and in some cases form hard patches on the 
belly. I have seen cases of long standing where 
the parasite buried deep into the muscles of the 
face so that a slough would take place clean to the 
bone of the jaw, leaving cankerous edges to the 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 145 

sore. The conjunctiva of the eyes and root of the 
ears may be also implicated. Pigs affected with 
this disease do not thrive and often die. 

Q^eatment: All the well ones should be re- 
moved and their heads rubbed with a liniment 
made by mixing one ounce of carbolic acid in half 
a pint of raw linseed or cotton seed oil. The affected 
ones in the early stages, before a slough takes 
place, should be well rubbed with an ointment 
made of iodine one-half ounce, vaseline eight 
ounces, or ichthyol one part, vaseline two parts. 
Repeat in three days. If this is well done it will 
stop the disease by killing the parasite. After it 
sloughs and becomes cankerous apply a little 
terchloride of antimony to the sores with a feather. 
Let it alone for; three days and if the parts look 
healthy use a solution of tobacco one part to thirty 
parts of water, and apply a little of this; be sure 
that every part is wet with it, then apply a little 
common tar to the affected parts. Take notice of 
the pigs; if they seem easy let them alone, but if 
they should be restless wash the parts with warm 
water and soap and use the tobacco solution again, 
and so on until the animal is cured. 

MANGE. 

This is also a parasitic disease, but not so difficult 
to cure and seldom causes death. It is caused by 
a parasite which burrows under the scarf skin, pro- 
ducing considerable irritation, destroying it so that 
scabs form, and on account of the great itchiness 
on the part the animal rubs it, causing the part to 



146 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

become a rough sore. This disease is contagious 
from one pig to another. It generally appears first 
on the thin parts of the skin under the arm, behind 
the ear, inside of the thighs and upon the back. 
This disease in the earl}' stage resembles eczema, 
but if the eyesight is good and assisted by the bright 
sunlight, the parasites may be seen as a moving 
white speck, but can be readily seen by a small 
magnifying glass. The cause of this disease is by 
contagion; that is, the parasites themselves or 
their eggs must get on the skin in order to produce 
the disease. It is therefore necessary that all the 
unaffected pigs should be removed from the prem- 
ises where the diseased ones are or have been, and 
the wood work of the sties washed with a strong 
solution of carbolic acid. 

Treatment: Wash the pigs all over with soft 
soap and water, then rub in well dry sulphur. When 
the sulphur comes in contact with secretions from 
the sores, it forms a compound poisonous to the 
parasites. In a day or two give the animal another 
washing, and rub on some more sulphur. A very 
sure remedy is to boil for one hour two ounces of 
stavesacre seeds in one and one-half quarts of 
water, and keep it nearly boiling for an hour 
longer; make up the water to the quantity original- 
ly used. Such a solution, rubbed into the skin, not 
only kills the parasite, but its eggs also. Kepeat 
in a week, if necessary. Another is to steep one 
part of tobacco in twenty parts of boiling water for 
a few hours, and, after washing the pig, apply a 
little of this to the affected parts with a sponge. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. J4^» 

If the surface to be covered is large, only apply it 
to one part today and to the other tomorrow. For 
instance, if the neck and the legs are affected, ap- 
ply to the neck first, then to the other parts the 
day following, and there will be no bad results 
from the use of the tobacco, and it is an excellent 
remedy when carefully used. 

LICE. 

The causes of lice in pigs are bad food and filthy 
sties. When pigs are badly housed or kept, lice 
will likely appear and will spread from one pig to 
the other. The louse of the pig is of a dusky iron 
color on its back, and gray or ashy yellow on the 
belly, and has long legs. Lice are a great torment 
to the pig, and it will be impossible to fatten a hog 
which is lousy, and they will prevent young pigs 
from growing. There are a number of remedies 
for the destruction of lice. The best, if attainable, 
is to boil two ounces of stavesacre seeds in three 
pints of water, let it nearly boil for an hour longer, 
making up the water to the quantity originally 
used. Wet the animal all over with a little of this. 
It will kill the lice and the nits. Solution of to- 
bacco one to twenty of water, is very effectual in 
destroying lice, and when used with caution there 
is no danger. Cotton seed or raw linseed oil two 
parts, kerosene one part, this to be rubbed over 
the animal. The only objection is, it being a 
greasy substance, it sometimes clogs up the pores, 
and on that account either of the first two are pre- 
ferred. 



143 DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

WARTS. 

These are caused by a deranged condition of the 
scarf skin, but subsequently the true skin becomes 
affected, thus producing on the surface of the body 
growths of various sizes. When these are rubbed 
or bruised they ulcerate, and thus form fungus-like 
masses, projecting from the skin. The^^ are verj^ 
unsightl}', and bleed on the slightest pressure. In 
some cases the^^ are flat, spreading over the skin. 

Treatment: For those which project from the 
skin and have a neck, tie a piece of sharp cord 
tightly around the base. If it does not slough off 
in a week, tie on another. When it sloughs off 
touch the part with terchloride of antimony once a 
day for a few days, to destroy the roots of the 
wart. In cases where they are flat, scrape off the 
scurf until the blood begins to ooze, then apply a 
little of the antimony to it with a feather. On the 
second or third day remove the scab that forms, 
and apply a little more of the antimony, and so on 
until it is lower than the surrounding skin. Then 
apply zinc oxide one ounce, vaseline two ounces; 
use a little once a day to heal it If it should show 
signs of growing up again, use the antimony as 
above. 

URTICARIA, NETTLE RASH, SURFEIT. 

This is a non-contagious disease characterized 
by the cutaneous elevations which are surrounded 
by redness, which can be seen if the pig's skin i \ 
svhite. It is usually the result of a deranged digo- 
tion or of feeding too long on one kind of food, or 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 149 

too much of any kind of starchy food. Some pigs 
are peculiarly susceptible to this disease. 

S^'mptoms: The sudden appearance of elastic 
prominences on the skin, accompanied by great 
itching of the parts; it may pass off as suddenly as 
it appears. There is a second form of this disease 
in which the lumps may rise on any part of the 
bod}^ and if they do not pass off soon, may form 
vesicles and discharge a glutinous fluid, and the 
animal may appear dull, the appetite may be 
somewhat impaired and the animal's health dis- 
turbed. 

Treatment: Give one to two ounces epsom salts 
and change the food. To relieve the itching mix 
one ounce of acetate of lead, one ounce tincture of 
opium in a quart of water and bathe the parts well 
with a little of it three or four times a day, if nec- 
essary. If the animal is not cured in a few days 
give five drops Fowler's solution of arsenic in its 
food three times a day. The trouble usually dis- 
appears after the stomach and bowels have been 
cleaned out. 

LICHEN. 

This is a form of skin disease consisting of pim- 
ples about the size of millet seeds; they develop 
principally around the hair follicles in patches; 
the hair falls off and the skin remains bare for five 
or six weeks, when a layer of scales drop off, and 
then the hair begins to grow. This malady is apt 
to recur. 

Treatment: Give the pig a teaspoonful of sul- 



150 DISEASED OF THE HOG. 

phur and ten grains of nitrate of potassium at a 
dose three times a day in the food and continue it 
for two weeks, if necessary. The skin should be 
well washed with a solution made by dissolving one 
ounce of carbonate of potash in a quart of soft 
water, then use clean water to wash it off; repeat 
the washing once a week. 

PRURIGO. 

This is an eruption of pimples having nearly the 
same color as the skin and attended with excessive 
itching. The eruxDtion is often confined to one spot 
and sometimes it attacks several parts of the body 
at the same time. The parts most usually affected 
are the neck and shoulders. 

The only symptom of this disease is the constant 
excessive itching. From the want of color the 
pimples are not observed, but the animal rubs 
itself so severely that the skin often becomes 
abraded, sometimes small black scabs may be seen. 
By running the fingers over the affected part the 
skin will feel rough or the pimples may be de- 
tected. It may occur at any period of the animal's 
existence. 

Treatment: As the majority of skin troubles are 
the result of faulty digestion the condition of the 
stomach should be attended to. Give from one to 
two ounces epsom salts and change the diet. If 
the animal is in a debilitated state give thirty drops 
syrup iodide of iron at a dose in a little water three 
times a day after meals, or five drop doses three 
times a da^- of Donovan's solution of arsenic. Bathe 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 151 

the affected parts three or four times a day with a 
lotion made by mixing half a dram of hydrocyanic- 
acid to the ounce of water. Twenty drops of crea- 
sote to the ounce of lard rubbed on the parts once a 
day is very useful. In chronic cases use a solution 
of corrosive sublimate, three grains to the ounce of 
water. If the skin is hard I have found an oint- 
ment made by mixing one ounce of ichthyol and 
two ounces of vaseline to be very useful. The oint- 
ments of oxide of zinc, one to two, or iodine one to 
eight of vaseline are also beneficial. 

PEHPHIQUS. 

This disease of the skin is characterized by blad- 
ders or elevations of the scarf skin varying from 
the size of a pea to a walnut, containing a yellow- 
ish transparent fluid and terminating in the forma- 
tion of a scab. This disease usually occurs without 
fever. The parts usually affected are the neck, 
sides, back and sometimes the outsides of the legs. 
They usually remain for three or four days, then 
break, form a scab and heal. It occurs most fre- 
quently in young pigs, but has appeared in adult 
hogs. The causes of this disease are obscure. It is 
supposed to be the result of an impaired condition 
of the system and exposure to the hot sun. 

Treatment: Give one to two ounces of epsom 
salts and follow this by ten grains of nitrate of 
potass three times a day in the food. A complete 
change of diet is sometimes all that is necessary. 
After the blisters break and discharge their con^ 



152 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

tents apply a little oxide of zinc ointment or a sim- 
ple cerate to protect the sore from the air. 

RUPIA. 

This is a disease which resembles pemphigus, 
but the elevations are flatter and contain a dark 
colored fluid; they are followed by a thick scab, 
easily separated and soon removed, or sometimes 
by ulcers. It is usually confounded with pemphi- 
gus, but as the treatment is about the same a mis- 
take will be of no importance. 

ACNE. 

This is a pustular disease sometimes seen on t6e 
udder of the sow and inside of the thighs. It con- 
sists of small pimples which form on the skin; some 
of the larger ones may contain a little matter. In 
a week or ten days they begin to dry up, leaving a 
brown scab or mark. In some cases they become 
' hard and of a reddish color and may remain in that 
condition for months. They make their api^ear- 
ance without causing any fever or itching. It does 
not seem to be contagious, as I have known a case 
in which the sow was nursing her pigs and none^ 
of them became affected with it. 

Treatment : Give a mild dose of salts ; follow this 
with syrup iodide of iron or five drops of Donovan's 
solution of arsenic three times a day in the food. 
Rub the affected parts with glycerine one ounce, 
tannic acid one dram, water one ounce. In chronic 
cases rub on a little soap liniment twice a day. If 
the pustules should suppurate and become sores 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 153 

apply the oxide of zinc ointment, made by mixing 
one ounce of the oxide of zinc with two ounces of 
vaseline. This can be used once or twice a day, 
according to the severity of the case. 

SCALY DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 

There are a number which are usually classed 
together as it would be impossible to distinguish 
one from the other in the pig, namely psoriasis, 
lepra, pityriasis, etc. 

Causes: Heat of the sun in summer and cold in 
winter. This condition of temperature has a won- 
derful effect on the skin of some hogs. There are 
other causes which are obscure. The disease is 
not contagious. 

Symptoms: The disease first begins by the for- 
mation of miniite pimples too small to be seen on 
the skin of the pig; these pimples dry up and the 
scarf skin peels off in flakes; this is usually re- 
peated several times and may pass away. At oth- 
ers the skin is inflamed, thickened, and intersected 
in all directions with furrows which are often deep 
and filled with a white powdery matter; the hair 
comes off and will not grow until the skin becomes 
healthy. Pigs affected with this scaly disease pre- 
sent a very uglj appearance, and it is the most 
common form of skin disease among hogs. In 
some few cases the skin will crack, causing much 
pain to the animal when it moves, especially if it 
be in the region of the joints. 

Treatment: If the pig is fat give it from one to 
two ounces of sulphate of magnesia dissolved in 



154 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

half a pint of cold water; after this operates give 
acetate of potass in doses of half a dram three 
times a day in the food. The diet under the same 
circumstances should be of a cooling nature. Avoid 
corn and give fine ground oats and milk instead 
and some kind of green food. In weak animals give 
the same kind of food, but do not give a physic; 
instead, give from half to one teaspoonful of the 
tincture chloride of iron in the food at a dose three 
times a day; a tablespoonful of cod liver oil at a 
dose in the food three times a day will be found to 
be of great service in such cases. A dessert spoon- 
ful of the compound syrup of sarsaparilla at a dose 
three times a day is also useful. Keep the pigs out 
of the sun and wash the body well with soap and 
water and then bathe with a lotion of acetate of 
lead half an ounce, sulphate of zinc half an ounce, 
water one quart. In cases where the skin has be- 
come hard use glycerine two ounces, water two 
ounces, tannic acid two drams; apply once a day. 
Iodide of sulphur fifteen grains, lard one ounce, is 
also useful. When the skin requires a stimulant 
rub once a day with a little compound soap lini- 
ment. If the skin should crack the oxide of zinc 
ointment will be the best to use. 

RING WORH (TINEA TONSURANS.) 

This is not a common disease among pigs, al- 
though I have been called upon to treat a few cases. 
It depends upon the presence of a vegetable para- 
site which finds its way to the skin by contagion 
and develops rapidly when it finds a suitable place; 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. ( 155 

it may affect any part of the body, but most fre- 
quently the face and ears. 

Symptoms: There appears a gray crust on the 
skin and the hair drops out; this keeps spreading 
in the form of a ring until the whole side of the 
face or ears are covered with it. The center parts 
become dry and hard, but the edges of the ring, if 
examined closely, are found to be very small vesi- 
cles, more or less moist. This disease is contagious 
to man to a certain extent; that is, it will develop 
for a time and then die. 

Treatment: First remove as much of the crust 
as possible by washing with soap and water, using 
a brush, then dry the surface, and mix two drams 
of iodine with two ounces of vaseline and rub a 
little of this well in; repeat in a week if necessary; 
or mix carbolic acid one ounce, alcohol two ounces; 
ai3ply a little with a small brush or a feather; re- 
peat in a week, if needed. 

SORE FEET. 

Pigs which are kept on hard, slippery floors suf- 
fer from inflammation of the sensitive parts of their 
feet. I have seen some very heavy hogs suffer from 
the same cause on hard, dry ground. There are also 
cases of sores breaking out at the back of the hoof 
and between the toes. This is called "foul in the 
feet;'' but I have not seen any cases of the conta- 
gious foot disease in this country, and the one to be 
described is a local disease caused by some sub- 
stance irritating the parts at the heel or between 
the toes. I have often seen it caused bv flne cinders 



156 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

of coal being scattered in the yard. This material 
gets in between the toes, causing irritation. Vesi- 
cles may form, burst, and discharge a yellow fluid, 
or matter may form. Unhealthy sores are the re- 
sult of the irritation not being removed. Cinders 
from coal should never be put in yards w^here hogs, 
cattle or sheep are kept, as I have had a number of 
cases in cattle and sheep, as well as the hog, nearly 
ruined from this cause. 

Treatment: In cases w^here the feet are tender 
and no sores appear, the animal should be kept for 
several hours on a bed of wet sand, as it is not prac- 
ticable to poultice the feet of the hog, and the wet 
sand will answer the purpose. If the animal is 
very lame a dose of epsom salts, followed by ten 
grains of nitrate of potassium two or three times a 
day in its food will cool the system and help to re- 
lieve the sore feet. In a few days the animal is 
cured. If sores appear between the toes or at the 
heels, clean the parts well with warm water and 
soap to remove all dirt. If there is any proud flesh, 
which can be known by its bluish appearance and 
spongy aspect, apply a little terchloride of anti- 
mony with a feather once. If it has not removed 
all the proud flesh apply again on the third day. 
To heal the sores use chloride of zinc one dram, 
water one pint; dress once or tw^ice a day, accord- 
ing to the severity of the case. Keep the pigs in a 
clean, dry place until the feet are well. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. J57 



CHAPTER XVI. 
DISEASES OF THE EYEBALL. 

The eye of the pig does not seem to be subject to 
many diseases, but I have no doubt but that cases 
occur which are not noticed; I shall therefore only 
mention those I have met with. 

Conjunctivitis: Simple ophthalmia results 
from injuries, and especially from foreign matters 
entering the eye. Exposure to cold, heat and acrid 
vapors, it is also the result of other diseases. When 
injuries and foreign matters are the cause one eye 
only is usually affected. 

Symptoms: There will be a profusion of tears 
trickling down the cheek or cheeks, there will be a 
thickening more or less of the eyelids and a red- 
ness of their lining membrane; this also may be 
thickened, which nearly closes the eye. An exam- 
ination of the eye must be made, the lids being 
separated by the finger and thumb and each lid in- 
verted in turn. If the eye has been injured, for a 
day or two there will usually be a white scum over 
the corner, which usually disappears when the in- 
flammation is reduced. 

Treatment: If there is any foreign substance in 
the eye have it removed. This is not easily done as 



jrg DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

the rapid movement of the haw over the eye 
prevents one from getting hold of the offending 
bod3\ Two drops of a three per cent solution of 
cocaine dropped into the eye will relieve the irrita- 
tion and the motion of the haw. For all forms of 
simple ophthalmia the eye should be bathed with 
cold water for ten or fifteen minutes three times a 
day and after each bathing apply a little of the fol- 
lowing lotion with a feather: Acetate of lead ten 
grains, tincture of opium ten drops, distilled water 
tA^'o ounces. I find this is the best of all eye lo- 
tions for simple inflammations of the e^^e, no mat- 
ter what the cause may have been. After the in- 
flammation has been subdued, if there should be 
any scum over the cornea mix five grains of nitrate 
of silver in one ounce of distilled water and apply a 
little once a day with a clean feather; this will 
stimulate absorption and the scum will soon dis- 
appear. The pig should be kept in a moderately 
dark place until well. If the inflammation should 
be very severe, give from one to two ounces of ep- 
som salts at a dose; this will cool the system and 
act as a revulsent 

AMAUROSIS. (PARALYSIS OF THE RETINA.) 

Amaurosis is a permanent dilatation of the pupil 
of the eye. The eye appears glassy, and in looking 
into the posterior chamber it has a greenish ap- 
pearance and is completely impervious to light. 

Causes: It is usually caused by affection of the 
optic nerve from some lesion of the brain. It is also 
caused by derangement of the digestive organs. I 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 159 

have been called to cases in which a number of pigs 
became suddenly blind and generally the brain was 
also affected. I have made post mortem examina- 
tions of some that died and the only lesion found 
was in the stomachs, which were inflamed and 
full of undigested food, and in some I think worms 
were the cause. The greater number were cured 
by giving a physic, epsom salts one to two ounces, 
or one ounce castor oil with two drops of croton oil 
in it; this was followed by giving two drops of the 
fluid extract of nux vomica and two grains of san- 
tonin at a dose in a little syrup three times a day; 
this was continued for a w^eek or two when neces- 
sary. When worms are suspected, give half ounce 
doses of the fluid extract of spigelia and senna 
every four hours until it purges, then give the nux 
vomica and santonin as above. I have found this 
quite common among shoats some seasons, and if 
seen early it can usually be cured. There are other 
diseases of the eye of the hog, but they are not 
easily treated, nor have I found it practicable to 
do so. Usually they do not affect the health of the 
animal, which will take on flesh, and can be sent to 
the market. 



160 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTEE XVII. 
SCARLET FEVER. 

This is a contagious disease, characterized by 
inflammation of the fauces (back part of the mouth) 
and a scarlet rash appearing usually on the second 
day and ending about the sixth or seventh. This 
disease is often confounded with measles. Al- 
though there is a marked difference in the human 
being it is not so easily distinguished in the hog 
unless the animal is white. If it should be mis- 
taken for measles or measles mistaken for it, the 
error would not be of much consequence, as it has 
to be treated according to the stage and severity 
of the fever; that is, to confine the fever as much as 
possible and keep up the strength of the patient 

Symptoms : In the early stages there is languor, 
and stiffness caused by the muscles of the back be- 
ing affected; there is a fast pulse, from one hundred 
to one hundred and twenty; high temperature, one 
hundred to one hundred and six; dry, hot skin, 
furred tongue, loss of appetite, great thirst, and 
great muscular weakness; sometimes the animal 
will vomit and the nervous system may be disor- 
dered, causing restlessness, delirium, stupor, coma 
or convulsions. Very often from the beginning 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. t6t 

there is inflammation of the throat and back part 
of the mouth, Avhich, on being examined, will be 
found red and swollen; the tongue will be coated 
with a yellowish white fur, and projecting red pim- 
ples will be seen upon its surface, and is red at the 
edges and tip. If the animal has white skin about 
the face, neck, belly or inside of the legs, a red rash 
will be seen about the second or third day. In some 
cases minute pimples form, which are itchy and 
make the animal very restless. The bowels are 
usually constipated, but in some few cases there 
may be diarrhoea. In some cases the throat symp- 
toms are very slight, but usually they are severe 
and occur before the rash and are ver}^ distressing, 
swelling both inside and out, and may prevent the 
animal from swallowing and make the breathing 
very difficult I'his disease is readily mistaken for 
quinsy in the pig. The disease usually reaches its 
height in from five to nine days, and then, in the 
majority of cases, begins to decline. The rash fades; 
the dry heat of the skin diminishes; the pulse be- 
comes slower; the throat symptoms disappear, and 
the tongue loses its fur and becomes clean, and the 
temperature is reduced; but in some cases it takes 
on worse forms, and an animal may die before the 
eruption appears, from shock upon the nervous 
system; or at any time during the attack from 
brain trouble or from inflammation attacking some 
of the vital parts, such as the lungs, stomach, bow- 
els; or the animal may die from suffocation. The 
patient may sink from debility. As this disease re- 
quires to be treated according to the condition of 



J62 DISEASES OF THE HOGt. 

the animal, changing the medicine several times 
dsiilj, it makes it a very difficnlt disease for the 
farmer to treat. Professor Wood, in his practice 
of medicine, says: "In the vast majority of cases 
scarlet fever would end favorably without treat- 
ment; hence, the reputation acquired by homeo- 
pathy in this disease." Therefore, if such a disease 
as this should break out, keep the animal in a good 
comfortable place, keep the bowels open by giving 
one ounce doses of epsom salts, or a seidlitz powder 
occasionally. Some recommend to give diluted 
acetic acid, ten drops in a little water, several times 
a day. If there should be diarrhoea, give one ounce 
of castor oil and from ten to twenty drops of tinc- 
ture of opium in it; repeat in ten hours if neces- 
sary. It is dangerous to check diarrhoea too quick- 
ly in this disease, as it is often an effort of nature to 
rid the system of poisonous material. If the throat 
is troublesome give ten grains of chlorate of potas- 
sium and three to five drops of fluid extract of bel- 
ladonna in three or four tablespoonfuls of cold 
water three or four times daily. If the fever is very 
high and in the early stage of the disease, from five 
to ten drops tincture of aconite in a spoonful of 
water, will in spme cases keep it down; but this 
should not be carried too far, as it is a very reduc- 
ing medicine, and so is the disease, and there may 
be danger of collapse. If the animal is very weak 
and the pulse small, give stimulants, such as two 
teaspoonfuls of sweet spirits of nitre in a little 
water, three or four times a day, or two teaspoon- 
fuls of good whisky in a little milk several times 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 163 

daily. Carbonate of ammonia is also good, given 
in ten to twelve grain doses in a little cold water 
three times daily. In great debility quinine five 
grains, sulphuric acid two drops, water one ounce, 
twice a day is useful. Cloths wrung out of boiling 
water and wrapped around the swollen neck, and 
continued for twelve to twenty-four hours, often 
relieves the distress. 

MEASLES (RUBEOLA.) 

This is a very common disease in young pigs. It 
is very contagious and is characterized by more or 
less cough or sneezing, red, watery eyes and also a 
watery discharge from the nose; the pigs are not so 
bright as usual and lie down a good deal; in mild 
cases the appetite is not much altered. In severe 
cases the throat becomes more or less affected and 
swalloAving may be difficult There occurs on the 
fourth day a red rash on the skin, first in minute 
pimples formed into distinct spots very slightly 
elevated above the skin; this rash is not easily 
made out unless the skin of the pig is white. The 
disease is usually mistaken for catarrh or cold, but 
by a careful examination the rash can be made out, 
as there are nearly always some white patches on 
most hogs. If the disease assumes a severe form 
the apjjetite is usually impaired, the animal is 
thirsty, the eyes are red and the eyelids swollen; if 
the pig eats anj^thing it is usualh^ rejected by vom- 
iting. In some few cases the animal will have con- 
vulsions. There will be fever, fast pulse, hurried 
breathing, and if the tongue is examined it will be 



164 DISEASES OF THE HO^. 

coated with fur, especially along the center. About 
the eighth day the disease begins to decline, the pig- 
brightens up, the swelling of the eyelids becomes 
reduced, the cough is less frequent or msij have 
disappeared altogether, the red color of the skin 
will diminish, the appetite return, and the pig will 
be quite well about the eleventh or twelfth day. 
Occasionally the pectoral symptoms at this stage 
increase instead of diminishing as they usually do, 
indicating that either bronchitis or pneumonia is 
setting in, and if it does so it will likely prove fatal 
in the pig. I have seen some few cases in which, 
instead of bronchitis or pneumonia, a severe diar- 
rhea would set in, caused by an irritation of the 
mucous membrane of the intestines, and it is usual- 
ly very troublesome and often causes death. I 
have seen cases of this kind mistaken for hog chol- 
era. Chronic cough is sometimes the result of this 
disease. 

Treatment: In mild cases treatment is not nec- 
essary, but the pig should not be exposed to cold or 
wet, and should have a dry bed to sleep in. In 
cases where the catarrhal symptoms are severe 
with fever, which can be known by the appetite 
being impaired, give epsom salts one to two ounces 
for a full grown pig, and from a teaspoonful to a 
dessert spoonful at a dose for a small pig. Boiled 
flaxseed mixed with the food or given in the form 
of flaxseed tea mixed with a little brown sugar will 
be found very useful. If the skin becomes dry and 
hot c:ive from five to ten grains of nitrate of potas- 
sium in the drinking water. If the throat is sore 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 155 

give from ten to thirty drops of the compound 
syrup of squills three or four times a day. If the 
pig does not eat and shows signs of weakness, give 
from one to two tablespoonf uls of good whisky in a 
little milk three or four times a day; whisky is a 
very useful medicine in this complaint Quinine 
in one to four grain doses in a little whisky and 
water is also good. In the second stage of the dis- 
ease if the eyes are very sore they should be bathed 
several times a day with an emulsion of slippery 
elm bark. If the pig should be in pain and have 
diarrhea it should have from five to twenty-five 
drops each of tincture of opium and spirits of cam- 
phor in a little warm milk every two hours until 
relieved. If bronchial trouble should set in give tar 
in little balls about the size of the end of one's little 
finger in the food or a little milk. Five to ten grains 
of carbonate of ammonia given in cold water sev- 
eral times a day will be found very useful; five to 
fifteen drops of turpentine is also very good. Care- 
ful nursing and stimulants in the form of whisky 
are usually all that is needed in this disease. 



166 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTEK XYIIL 
ERYSIPELAS. 

This is a constitutional disease characterized by 
inflammation of the skin with fever. 

Causes: Some animals have a predisposition to 
this disease and it only needs some exciting cause 
to develop it. It is usually caused by a wound of 
some kind by which the poison enters the tissue. 
There is a difference of opinion as to what this poi- 
son consists of, but there is no doubt but that it is 
an organism as it has been found, still the results 
of experiments are very conflicting. It also makes 
its appearance without any wound being found on 
the body and is supposed to be the result of som-^ 
undue excitement of the skin as from the direct 
heat of the sun or exposure to severe cold. It has 
also been ascribed to the kind of food the animal 
has been fed upon, to a deranged condition of the 
digestive organs and to rheumatism. Erv'sipelas 
has been caused in the human being by stings or 
bites from insects and the scratch of a pin has pro- 
duced it, and no doubt but some of the cases of it 
which we find in pigs are the results of such slight 
injuries. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 167 

Symptoms: There are two forms of this disease, 
t^e constitutional and the local. In the first the 
animal appears dull, refuses its food, the pulse is 
fast and the breathing hurried. At this stage of 
the disease it is impossible to diagnose it, it is only 
when the skin in some part becomes affected that 
the true nature of the disease is apparent. A pig 
that has been noticed ailing for a day or two be^ 
gins to sw^ell on some part of the body, particularly 
the neck ; if the skin is w^hite it will have a red ap- 
pearance, the redness will disappear on pressure 
to return immediatel}^ the pressure is removed; 
the swelling rises distinctly above the surrounding- 
parts and continues this elevated march until it 
ceases, the margin is alw^ays abrupt. I saw one 
case of a valuable sow which had been sick for two 
days before I was called to see her, the head and 
neck began to swell and in spite of treatment the 
swelling extended, keeping an abrupt edge until 
it spread all over the body and the animal died on 
the third day. At time of death the body seemed 
to be twice its natural size. On removing the skin 
there was great infiltration of serum of a dark 
color and in some parts black; this extended into 
the connecting tissue of the muscles and had a very 
fetid odor, the lungs were found much congested, 
which was the immediate cause of death, there was 
considerable effusion in the pleural cavity ; the oth- 
er organs of the body w^ere healthy. In some cases 
the inflammation rises for three or four days then 
gradually subsides without any apparent effusion 
of any kind and terminates in desquamation. Ii 



168 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

the majority of cases there will be more or less 
effusion take place, which will exude through the 
skin, or small vesicles may form and burst, dis- 
charging lymph, this is a very favorable sign, or 
matter may form and cause a large slough. A 
man told me he had a large pig which swelled in 
its body and that there was a considerable quan- 
tity of matter formed so that the greater part of 
the skin of one side and part of the belly peeled off 
and he had the pig destroyed. This was, no doubt, 
a case of erysipelas. I have seen cases in very fat 
pigs where the skin of the abdomen loosened from 
the connective tissue and hung down. There was 
very little effusion. In time the hair dropped out 
and the skin contracted into a sort of fold. In time 
the animal recovered, but it was much disfigured. 
In cases where the head and face are the parts af- 
fected the inflammation often extends to the brain 
through the nostrils and ethmoidal cells, causing 
delirium and death. 

Treatment: In the early stage a dose of epsom 
salts is proper and cooling medicine, such as ni- 
trate of potassium in ten grain doses three or four 
times a day. If there is irritation of the bowels 
castor oil in one to two ounce doses will 
be the best cathartic. Should the pulse be 
fast and full, give a few doses of tinc- 
ture of aconite three to five drops every two 
hours lintil the pulse is reduced both in force 
and frequenc}^ When there is feebleness from the 
besfinninc: with restlessness or nerve irritation one 
grain each of opium and ipecacuanha should be 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. Igg 

given three or four times a day. Tincture chloride 
of iron has been found very useful in this disease 
in doses of from fifteen to tw^enty drops every two 
hours throughout the disease without reference 
to the degree of fever or delirium. The best local 
treatment is to keep the swollen part constantly 
wet with acetate of lead lotion, strength half an 
ounce to the quart of water. The effusion of slip- 
pery elm bark has been used with success, but I 
have had the most advantage from the use of the 
lead. The animal should be fed on milk and oat- 
meal and kept comfortable and given all the cold 
water it will drink. If blisters form they should 
be opened to prevent them from communication 
and the consequent loss of the skin, and dress the 
opened vesicle with acetate of lead lotion. If gan- 
grene should take place in a part it may possibly 
be arrested by applying a blister over the surface 
of the part affected. Also support the strength 
of the animal with beef tea and quinine and 
whisky. It is seldom that the animal recovers 
after gangrene sets in in any part of the affected 
surface. 



170 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

RHEUMATISM. 

This is a very common disease among pigs, espe- 
cially young ones. It is a constitutional disease 
attended by a peculiar irritation or it might be 
called an inflammation to which all parts of the 
body are liable^ but it is found most frequently in 
the hind legs. It is found in two forms, muscular 
and articular, the former when it affects the tissue 
of the muscle, and the latter when it affects the 
structures composing the joints. The nature of 
rheumatism is not well understood. The profes- 
sion is divided as to what it really is; some say the 
offending matter is lactic acid, others that it is 
uric acid, but none of these substances have been 
found in sufficient quantities to cause it. Wood 
says of this disease: "All that we know of the 
real nature of this disease is that it is peculiar, and 
that it owes this peculiarity, not to the character 
of the cause, but to some unexplained condition of 
the system called the rheumatic predisposition or 
diathesis. I am inclined to the opinion that this 
diathesis is in itself a morbid state, in fact, the 
true disease, and that the irritation and inflamma- 
tion by which it is recognized are merely sym;>- 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. \1^ 

toms of its full development. That the rheumatic 
differs essentially from ordinary inflammation is 
shown chiefly by its shifting character, its disposi- 
tion to alternate with mere irritation or functional 
disorder, and the almost entire absence of any 
tendency to suppuration, even in the most violent 
cases." 

Causes: It is impossible to say what causes 
rheumatism in the pig, as it is found under all con- 
ditions, when the pigs are well kept and when they 
are not. Cold seems to be an exciting cause of 
acute rheumatism, moisture increases its effect, 
thus it is often found in pigs which have to sleep 
in wet, cold beds, but in the majority of cases some- 
thing more than cold and moisture is needed. Sub- 
acute rheumatism is the form usually found in the 
pig, although I have seen a few cases of acute rheu- 
matism. 

Symptoms: There is lameness of one or more 
legs which is more or less noticeable according to 
the severity of the case. The joints often swell at 
the fetlock. If the swelling is inflammatory there 
will be decided fever and thus constitute acute 
rheumatism, causing a rise in temperature, a full, 
fast pulse, loss of appetite, and an indication that 
the animal is suffering pain. I have seen some 
cases of this kind where if the pig was made to 
move it would squeal with pain. From the effects 
of the inflammation there may be an increased se- 
cretion of the synovial fluid and fluctuation may 
be noticed in the joints. In some cases the carti- 
lage and tissue of the joints become enlarged and 



172 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

remain so, causing stiffness of the joints. In the 
muscular form, as well as in the articular, the 
disease may extend to several muscles or may be 
limited to one. It very frequently involves several 
in the same neighborhood and concerned in the 
same action. There may or may not be inflamma- 
tion, or only an irritation causing soreness and 
stiffness with little or no swelling. If inflamma- 
tion is present there will be pain, swelling and red- 
ness, causing high fever. This variety of rheuma- 
tism is not confined to the muscles and joints, but 
may affect any tissue of the body. There is reason 
to believe that it sometimes attacks the nervous 
sheaths, producing severe pain along their course 
or may extend to the nerves themselves, producing 
spasms of the parts. There is no doubt but that 
many of the severe complicated nervous disorders, 
both of external and internal parts, connected with 
tenderness of the spinal column and the marrow, 
causing paralysis of the hind legs, are due to sub- 
acute rheumatism. In some forms of rheumatism 
ithere is a great tendency for it to shift from one 
joint to another or from one part of the body to 
another. This form is less likely to cause bad re- 
sults, as it is only an irritation and not inflamma- 
tory. Eheumatism is liable to attack any organ 
of the body, such as the heart, lungs, pleura, dia- 
phragm, abdomen, stomach, liver, kidneys, bowels, 
etc. Rheumatism in the acute or subacute form is 
not a fatal disease unless it affects some of the in- 
ternal organs, especially the heart, but it is apt to 
leave complications, especially is this the case 



DISEASES OF THE HOO. If^ 

in fat pigs. If pigs are unable to rise the constant 
pressure on the muscles and fatty material from 
lying on them soon causes them to undergo decom- 
position and gangrene ending either in sloughing 
or death. There is a chronic form of rheumatism 
which afl'ects young pigs which are kept in wet, 
cold places. This form of rheumatism is most 
commonly found in the joints, although it may 
affect the fibrous, synovial or muscular tissue. In 
this form of the disease the swelling of the joints 
is not much and to all ai)pearances in some cases 
not at all. In such cases the muscles often waste 
away, shrink and become shorter. I have seen 
young pigs affected with this disease going around 
in a stiff manner, hump-back, with shrinking of 
the muscles of the legs, hips and loins; such cases 
do not grow and are not worth keeping unless they 
are properly treated and cured. 

Treatment : In the early stages of rheumatism 
give from one to two ounces of sulphate of mag- 
nesia or two drops of croton oil in a spoonful of 
sweet oil; if this does not cause purging in fifteen 
hours repeat the dose. There is no remedy which 
will give so much relief in acute rheumatism as a 
good physic and I have had the best results from 
the use of croton oil; follow this by giving ten to 
fifteen drops of the oil of gaultheria in a spoonful 
of sweet oil or raw linseed oil three times a day. » 
Iodide of potassium in ten grain doses three times 
a day is also useful, or the bicarbonate of potas- 
sium in ten grain doses along with the food three 
times a day. In cases of inflammator}- rheuma- 



174 mSEASES OF THE HOG. 

tism when the pulse is full, fast and strong tlirte 
to five drops of tincture of aconite every two hours 
in a little water w^ll be found useful to reduce the 
fever, then give the oil of gaultheria. In cases of 
chronic rheumatism I have found arsenic to be of 
great service, five to eight drops of Fowler's solu- 
tion of arsenic in the food at a dose three times a 
day and continued for several weeks. 

Local Treatment: When the joints are swollen, 
hot and tender to the touch use a mixture of one 
ounce of tincture of opium, one ounce fluid extract 
of belladonna and half a pint of water, bathe the 
swollen parts several times a day with a little of 
this. In cases w^here the joints are swollen but 
neither hot nor tender the use of cantharides will 
sometimes work wonders, strength one part of 
cantharides to four parts of lard, repeat in a week 
if necessary. I have seen hogs which could not 
walk from swelling and deep seated pain in two 
days after the application of a cantharidine blister 
be able to walk and soon get w^ell. In milder cases 
camphorated soap liniment well rubbed in to the 
swollen parts wdll often relieve the pain. There 
are a great many medicines which are used for the 
treatment of rheumatism, but the above will be 
found to be the best 

SPRAINS. 

Pigs, both young and old, are liable to sprains of 
the ligaments and tendons of joints which will 
cause lameness more or less severe and in some 



DISEASES OF TtlE HOO. 175 

cases there will be swelling of the parts. This ail- 
ment may be mistaken for rheumatism and if sucli 
should be the case no harm would be done, as the 
treatment recommended for acute rheumatism 
would be proi^er. Cases of lameness, although 
they may be slight, ought to be attended to as any 
suffering that the pig may be subjected to will 
cause a reduction of flesh resulting in loss to the 
owner. 



176 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTER XX. 
DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 

Phrenitis. (Inflammation of the Brain.) Menin- 
gitis, Inflammation of the Membrane of the Brain. 
These two diseases are so much alike that it is im- 
possible in the animal to discriminate accurately 
between them. There is no doubt but that 
at times the inflammation may exist sepa- 
rately in either the brain itself or its cov- 
ering, but it is only on dissection that the true 
nature of the disease is demonstrated. It is of lit- 
tle practical importance, as the treatment would 
be the same in either case. In the vast majority 
of cases both the brain and its membranes are 
more or less affected at the same time. 

Causes: One of the most common causes of in- 
flammation is a rich state of the blood caused by 
over feeding, short thick necks and a weak circula- 
tion, some kinds of food, such as brewers' grains 
and distillery slops, often produce it. It is often 
the result of other diseases and injuries, such as 
kicks and blows, over-exertion, such as being pur- 
sued on a hot day. It also sometimes occurs with- 
out any apparent cause. 

Symptoms: The attack sometimes comes on sud- 
denly or it may be preceded by dulness, loss of 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 177 

appetite and the animal appearing stupid, and as 
it becomes more pronounced the animal will stag- 
ger and have the appearance of being giddy with a 
wild expression of the eyes; there is often a twitch- 
ing of the e^^elids, sometimes so much so that it 
may completely close them for a moment, then ex- 
tend them wide open and so on. At this stage of 
the disease the pulse is full and hard and the 
breathing slow ; the animal soon becomes very rest- 
less and at times will tear substances with its 
teeth, and sooner or later delirium sets in, the pulse 
is then full, hard and fast and may be irregular; 
the breathing is hurried, the skin hot and dry, vom- 
iting is A^ery characteristic of this disease, although 
I have seen cases w^here vomiting did not occur. 
The delirium sopn gives way to stupor then to 
coma, but this is not so common in the pig as in 
man (exhaustion with convulsion.) We cannot 
confine the animal in its wild delirious condition 
and on this account it soon exhausts itself and dies. 
It is seldom that a pig affected with this complaint 
will live more than twenty-four to thirty-six hours. 
I was called to examine a number of pigs which 
w^ere supposed to be affected with h^^drophobia, 
but which proved to be inflammation of the brain 
caused b}^ a sudden change of food. The animals 
had been fed on dry corn in the ear for a length of 
time without sufficient water and w^ere changed to 
green corn and corn stalks and in three days after 
eight of them were affected, I could find no other 
cause. All the well ones were put back on the dry 
food and none of them Avere affected. On the sec- 



]78 DISEASES OF THE TTOH. 

oncl day after the change from dry food to greea 
corn diarrhea set in and those which liad this 
complaint bad had the brain symptoms. The ma- 
jority of the affected ones became wild, would run 
about, some of them squealing, and would attack 
poultry of any kind and tear them if they got hold 
of them, they did not attack each other; very soon 
they would bump ujj against anything they came 
in contact with, because the}^ had lost either their 
sight or sense. I think in most cases both the pigs 
were in such a state of excitement that it was im- 
possible to get a correct condition of the pulse or 
respiration; the pulse as found was full and not 
fast, but irregular; the pupils of the eyes were very 
much contracted; some champed the jaws and had 
considerable froth at the mouth as a result, others 
did not, but all were very restless without a mo- 
ment of relief; finally they became exhausted or 
partial]^^ paralyzed or a combination of both, first 
their hind legs, then the fore, they would then 
struggle on their side or bellies and soon die. I 
had one of the pigs killed, and made a hasty exam- 
ination of the head. I found the membrane of the 
brain much thickened and very vascular, in fact 
congested; there was considerable fluid beneath 
the arachnoid membrane, also in the ventricles and 
■fhe meshes of the pia matter. The brain itself was 
not much changed, although there was some ap- 
pearance of congestion on the cortical substance 
and the cut surface of the medullary portion was 
thickly dotted with red spots. I found sufficient 
alterations of the membranes and brain to account 



Diseases of the hog. ifg 

for the cause of disease. The lungs and stomach 
had spots of congestion. All the other organs were 
healthy. I treated the other seven with a dose of 
epsom salts and a few doses of tincture of aconite, 
but only one recovered, the others died during the 
night. 

Treatment of Inflammation of the Brain : In the 
early stage give a strong dose of epsom salts, two 
ounces to the adult pig; follow this by giving three 
to five drops of tincture of aconite if it does not 
cause vomiting; if it does, it should be discon- 
tinued. Ice to the head would be of service, but it 
is impossible to apply it to the head of the pig. A 
blister of cantharides to the back of the head may 
be of use and should be tried. 

CHOREA. 

Chorea : This disease affects the muscles, caus- 
ing involuntary contractions in some part of the 
body. The contractions are not rigid or persistent 
like those of tetanus, nor quick or jerking like 
those of convulsions. They resemble somewhat 
the voluntary movements. 

Causes: Defective nutrition has something to 
do with this disease, as it is often less seen in ani- 
mals of a feeble condition, some excitable state of 
the nervous system or the nerves supplying a mus- 
cle or a group of muscles. I have seen this com- 
plaint affect pigs to all appearance in the best pos- 
sible condition. It is therefore difficult to ascribe 
a cause. It seldom attacks very young or very old 



180 f)ISEASES OP THE HOG. 

pigs; from six months to one year is the usual age. 
The disease does not seem to do any particular 
harm to the hog as far as its growth and health are 
concerned. 

Symptoms : The first thing noticed is an irreg- 
ular jerking motion of some of the muscles, espe- 
cially those of the shoulder, fore leg, or neck. It 
gives the animal an unsteady gait. When the 
muscles of the trunk are the ones affected the ani- 
mal is pulled to one side or the other. I have seen 
cases where the pig started off its hind parts would 
drag so much to one side that it would cause the 
animal to fall over. In slight cases there may only 
be a jerking of the muscle which is of little incon- 
venience to the animal. This derangement is easily 
diagnosed by the absence of fever, coma, delirium 
and rigid spasms of other nervous diseases w^hich 
are not present in this one. 

Treatment: In the great majority of cases treat- 
ment should not be tried. It usually does not affect 
the health of the animal and it can be fed for mar- 
ket as well as the others. If it should affect the 
muscles of the mouth so as to prevent the animal 
from eating as well as is necessary in feeding hogs 
medicine may be tried. The subcarbonate of iron 
in half to one dram doses in the food three times 
a day is a good remedy. The sulphate of zinc in 
two grain doses increased to three or four if the 
stomach will bear it or Fowler's solution of arsenic 
in five drop doses three times a day in food is also 
good. 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 131 

TETANUS. 

The exciting causes of tetanus are wounds and 
injuries. A great deal has been written as to the 
character of the wound, but it is generally ad- 
mitted that it may take place as a result of any 
kind of wound, but the punctured wounds, espe- 
cially if they are in the feet, are more likely to pro- 
duce it than any other kind. The interval between 
the reception of the wound and the occurrence of 
tetanus is very uncertain. According to the state- 
ment of some writers it has taken in a few minutes 
after the operation or wound, but it most frequent- 
ly takes place as the wound begins to or has almost 
healed. Idiopathic tetanus is supposed to be 
caused by something which is likely to disturb the 
motor nerve system, such as exposure to cold, in- 
digestible substances in the stomach, worms in the 
intestines and irritation of the urine system. It 
has made its apj)earance and the cause could not 
be determined. It is ascribed to a bacillus tetani 
which is found in the soil getting into the wound 
and there developing in the nerve tissue. The fact 
that tetanus in some cases comes on immediately 
after a surgical operation would throw doubt on 
this statement. I intend making a number of ex- 
periments on this bacillus tetani this fall and shall 
publish the results. 

Symptoms: The first thing noticed in animals 
affected w^ith this disease will be a protruding of 
the membrana nictitans (a membrane of. the eye 
l)eculiar to animals) w^hen the head is turned to one 
side. There will be stiffness of the muscles near 



182 DISEASES OF THE HOG 

the seat of the injury; if the animal is made to 
move, as soon as the muscles of the face become 
affected it champs its jaws, causing a froth at the 
mouth; soon the muscles of the back become con- 
tracted, drawing the head upwards with the nose 
looked out, and the ears are pricked upwards and 
inwards, the back bent downwards and the tail 
elevated; the muscles are always in a state of con- 
traction, but if the animal is disturbed in any way 
there will be an extra spasm of the muscles which 
causes great suffering to the animal. At first the 
pulse is not much affected, but as the disease ad- 
vances and the spasms become more severe it be- 
comes faster and harder; the breathing also is fast- 
er, especially when a spasm is on, sometimes the 
spasms are so severe that the animal is thrown 
down and is unable to rise; the muscles of degluti- 
tion are sometimes affected and the animal is un- 
able to swallow. 

Treatment : The disease is the result of an over- 
exhilarated state of the spinal cord and requires a 
strong dose of medicine which will overcome this 
condition. I find that bromide of potassium will 
accomplish this providing the doses are large 
enough. Give the pig one ounce bromide of potas- 
sium at the first dose and half an ounce every two 
hours until the muscles relax, give the medicine in 
gruel. Keep the animal hungry and thirsty so 
that it will suck this into its mouth. Keep the i^ig 
in a dark place. There are other medicines which 
have been recommended, but they are of little use. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 183 

PARALYSIS, PARTIAL PARALYSIS. 

This is a ver}^ common disease in the pig most 
usually affecting the hind parts. Pathological 
condition : In most cases paralysis is a mere symp- 
tom of a morbid state existing in some other part 
than the one apparently affected. It may depend 
upon disease, either in the nervous centers, incapa- 
citating them for the reception of impressions or 
the origination of influence, or in the conducting 
filaments which form the communication between 
all parts of the body and these centers. But it 
may also be strictly local and depend on an altered 
state of the terminal nerves. The nerve centers 
are probably in the gray matter of the brain and 
spinal marrow and the ganglia. The conductinp- 
filaments probably make up the white matter of 
the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It follows that 
the true seat of the disease may be in the encepha- 
lon, the spinal marrow, the conducting nerves or 
the nerve ramifications of the paralyzed part. 
(Wood.) ' 

I have made a number of post mortem examina- 
tions and also examined the spinal cord and have 
found in some cases the cord and main nerves of 
the paralyzed parts enlarged and softened with 
considerable effusion in the sheaths, and in others 
atrophied and indurated. In some cases I could 
detect very slight change in the nerve structure. 
It takes a very slight disturbance in the nerve or 
its sheath to render it unfit for receiving or send- 
ing impressions from the brain or from the nerves 
in Viu^ iiiimcHliate seat of the disease. 



184 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

Symptoms: Paralysis may come on suddenl}^ 
or gradually. Usually the first thing noticeable 
in the pig will be some stiffness in rising and mov- 
ing about, with the back somewhat arched, knuck- 
ling forward on one or both of the hind legs at the 
ankles; by degrees this grows worse. If the pig 
can rise it may be unable to stand, as the hind legs 
will double under it. In some cases the animal 
seems to be more or less in pain and if made to 
move will drag its hind legs. If the animal is not 
properly treated it gets still weaker until it cannot 
move and usually dies in from one to two weeks. At 
first the appetite is not impaired nor the heart's 
action increased, but as the disease advances the 
pig will eat but little and the pulse becomes faster 
and weaker. The only disease which might be 
mistaken for paralysis of the hind parts is rheuma- 
tism. There is no doubt but that severe rheuma- 
tism will cause the animal to lose more or less con- 
trol of its hind legs. In rheumatism the animal 
will evince more' pain on being handled and if ex- 
cited may even walk for a short distance. There 
may be a combination of rheumatism and paralysis 
in cases where the rheumatism affects the sheath 
of the nerve, but as the treatment of this form of 
rheumatism would be the same or nearly so as in 
paralysis there would be no harm done in using it. 

Treatment: In the early stages of the disease 
give the pig one ounce of castor oil and one or two 
drops of croton oil in it; as soon as the physic oper- 
ates give eight or ten grains of iodide of potassium 
three times a dav in the drinking water; if the ani- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 185 

mal will not take it in the drinking water put it in 
a little water and give it with a spoon. In three 
days if the animal is not improved give it from 
two to three drops of fluid extract of nux vomica 
and from ten to fifteen drops of oil of gaultheria 
in a tablespoon of sweet oil three times a day. 
Also rub the back, loins and hips once a day with 
a little compound soap liniment. Feed the pig on 
oatmeal mush and milk, with a little of anything 
else it will take. Also see that the animal is shel- 
tered from the heat of the sun, rain and cold. I have 
been very successful in the curing of this disease 
by the above treatment 

HYDROPHOBIA, RABIES, RABIES CANINA. 

This is a peculiar disease resulting from the en- 
trance into the system of a poison of a rabid ani- 
mal; the poison is almost always received by the 
bite of an animal. The wound usually heals and 
for some time after no constitutional effects are 
felt. It is seldom that any symptoms of the dis-, 
ease are shown until about the twentieth day after 
the bite. Some believe that it may originate in 
man or dogs independently of any poison entering 
the system, but it is not likely that it has been 
real hydrophobia, as there are a number of nervous 
diseases which somewhat resemble hydrophobia 
and may have been mistaken for it. There is no 
doubt but what the saliva contains the germs of 
the poison, and if it should come in contact with 
a mucous membrane it will become absorbed. 

Youatt mentions that persons have been at- 



J 86 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

tacked with hydrophobia in consequence of having 
willed their mouths with linen which had been 
impregnated with the saliva of a mad dog; and a 
ease is mentioned in which the disease originated 
from an attempt to untie with the teeth a knot in a 
cord by which one of these diseased animals had 
been fastened. Horses, oxen, sheep and other ani- 
mals are said to have contracted the disease by 
eating the straw upon which mad dogs have lain. 
We should therefore be very careful if any ani- 
mal should have an attack of hydrophobia to be 
on the lookout in handling an animal or anything 
which it may have come in contact with, in case 
that any of the poison should touch any abraded 
surface or mucous membrane. A great many per- 
sons who are bitten are never attacked with the 
disease. It is possible that some systems are not 
susceptible to the poison. It is said that some ani- 
mals are more poisonous than others. In man or 
animals that are bitten by the wolf a much larger 
portion is attacked than in those bitten by the dog; 
this is, however, explained by asserted facts that 
the wolf generally flies at the naked part, as the 
face and hands, while the dog more often bites 
through the clothing and in this way the teeth 
may be wiped off before reaching the skin, and the 
hair of animals may to a certain extent do the 
same, but the percentage of deaths of animals 
bitten by the same dog is much greater than that 
of man; of one hundred and fourteen cases of per- 
sons bitten by mad wolves, collected by Dr. Wat- 
son, sixty-seven died; while of fifteen persons bit- 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 187 

ten by a mad dog only three died. Dr. John Hun* 
ter states that he knew an instance in which twen- 
ty-one were bitten and only one died. The germ of 
hydrophobia lodged within the animal body re- 
quires time for its reproductive process to be com- 
pleted, and this process may be hastened or re- 
tarded by various conditions w^hich are not easily 
made out. It usually, I suppose, if conditions are 
favorable, takes place about the twentieth day, 
seldom before that period, or it may take from one 
to three months. Cases have been reported in 
man in which it made its appearance after several 
years; in one case ten years. 

The symptoms of the disease in the hog resemble 
very much those in the dog. The animal has at 
first an altered look, is very restless and frequently 
changes his position, will often be seen to rub a 
certain part of its body, and if it should be within 
reach of its mouth will bite at it, and if the part is 
examined there will be found a scar, the seat of the 
bite; it will be somew^hat swollen and if the skin 
Avas white it will be changed to red, it may even 
break open again. There is no doubt but what the 
animal feels it either itchy or painful. The ani- 
mal has a disposition to pick up and swallow dirt 
of any kind and occasionally vomit. In some cases 
it becomes irritable and will bite at anything that 
comes in its way, or may run at other pigs. There 
is a flow of saliva from the mouth, caused more or 
less by a champing of the jaws. The voice of the 
animal is changed into a spasmodic grunt, some- 
^^ h;;1 resembling the bark of a dog. There must 



183 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

be some stricture of the throat, as the animal 
seems to want to get something out of it and will 
even put its feet up to the corners of the mouth. 
The breathing is labored and has a peculiar sound, 
caused, no doubt, from the throat affection. As 
the disease advances the animal will become more 
excited, and if at liberty will run around, snap- 
ping at everything it meets and sometimes seems 
as if it were looking for something to attack. At 
length symptoms of paralysis set in, the legs give 
way, the lower jaw drops and the animal usually 
dies about the fourth or fifth day, although I have 
known them to die sooner. 

Treatment is of no use after the disease is once 
established, and the animal should be destroyed. 
If an animal is known to be bitten by a rabid ani- 
mal the parts should be washed and caustic potass 
applied; this is the best caustic because it will pen- 
etrate deeper into the wound than any other caus- 
tic. If none is at hand, take a red hot iron and 
burn the part as deep as possible. If this is well 
done it will save the animal's life in every case. 




Horizontal section of the kidney of a hog. a. Cortical 
substance; b. Medullary substance; c. Renal papillae; d. In- 
fuudibulum; e. Ureter cut across. 



diseasp:s of the hog. i89 



CHAPTER XXL 
DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 

A short description of the kidneys is necessary 
so that we may have a better idea of the cause and 
nature of their diseases. The kidneys are two 
glandular organs situated in the lumbar region 
of the back. They are composed of a number of 
tubes and tufts, around which the blood vessels 
run. The suppl}^ of blood to the kidneys is very 
large for the size of these organs. The tubes be- 
gin very small at the surface of the kidney and are 
very numerous; they soon join one another, be- 
coming larger and finally terminate in a part of 
the kidney termed the pelvis. At the lower border 
from this place there is a small duct which leads 
to the bladder, through which the urine passes. 
The use of the kidneys is to secrete the water and 
effete matters in the form of urine and uric acid, 
which would soon poison the body if it remained 
there. The blood vessels ramify around the tubes, 
and the epithelium of the tubes secretes the urine 
from the blood, and if we consider the quantity of 
urine which is secreted daily we need not wonder 
at the size of the blood vessels which go to and 
from the kidneys. If from want of action, from 



190 nTSEA?!KS OF THE HOG. 

disease, or otherwise, the kidneys did not secrete 
this material from the bh)od the animal would 
soon suffer from a form of blood poisoning called 
uremic. The quantity of urine secreted varies 
very much in the same animal. The weather has 
a great deal to do with the amount secreted. Ani- 
mals pass more urine in winter than in summer, 
as heat increases the quantity removed by the 
skin and lessens the amount passed b}" the kidneys. 
Thick, creamy urine is the result of a sluggish 
condition of the kidneys, while coffee colored and 
scanty urine is the result of fever and a partial 
congestive state of the secretive organs in differ- 
ent parts of the body. An increase in the quantity 
and a clear or light yellow color denote either 
over-stimulation or it is seen in cold weather, and 
on account of it not being irritant the time be- 
tween voiding it has been prolonged. On the 
other hand, if it is passed in quantities and often 
and the animal is very thirsty, it is a symptom of 
a disease which will be described hereafter. As 
long as an animal is in good condition and spirits 
and has a good appetite, no notice need be taken of 
the urine. Diseases of the urinary organs are very 
rare in animals, but as they do happen sometimes 
I shall describe a few^ of them. 

Nephritis (Inflammation of the Kidneys). 
Causes: Injuries, cold rains, cold water dropping 
on the loins for a length of time, feeding on brew- 
ers' grains and distillery slops, kidney worms, etc. 
Symptoms: The animal is stiff in its hind parts, 
pain in the loins if the animal is made to move, 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 191 

or if sliglit pressure is brought to bear on the loins 
the animal will squeal. There is loss of appetite 
and high fever, fast pulse, rapid breathing and 
elevated temperature. The animal is restless and 
a few drops of highly colored urine will be passed 
at short intervals. In a few days, if the animal is 
not relieved, it will become very weak, staggering 
on its legs, especially the hind ones; the fever in- 
creases, and the brain becomes affected from the 
blood being poisoned by ureic salts not being elim- 
inated from it, thus causing uremic poisoning. 
The stomach often becomes affected, causing vom- 
iting, and there will be a strong smell of urine. 
Treatment: Give a dose of epsom salts, one or 
two ounces, dissolved in half a pint of cold water. 
If the stomach is irritable, give three or four grains 
of calomel and one grain of opium every two hours 
till three doses are taken. This combination has 
often the effect of quieting the stomach, so that 
it will retain salts. When the fever is very high, 
give from three to five drops of tincture of aconite 
in a little water every two hours until the fever 
is reduced. If there is much pain one or two grains 
of opium should be given. The animal should be 
encouraged to drink all the cold water possible; 
barley and ice water may also be given with the 
bottle. Sometimes sixty drops of tincture of 
opium, mixed with linseed tea and given as an 
injection, is very useful. Apply mustard poultices 
to the loins. When the acute symptoms are 
passed, give a teaspoonful of spirits of nitrous 
ether and a teaspoonful of fluid extract of buchu 



-jg2 DISEASES OP THE HOG. 

three times a day in a little water. If the heart is 
irritable, and there is great suppression of urine, 
bathe the loins with hot water, and saturate a 
piece of flannel with tincture of digitalis and lay 
it over them, or give from one to three drops of 
the fluid extract of digitalis in a little water three 
or four times a day. When the animal becomes 
convalescent, give it a teaspoonful of tincture of 
chloride of iron twice daily in a little syrup. Give 
the pig anything it will eat 

HEMATURIA (BLOOD WITH THE URINE). 

This derangement is sometimes seen in the pig. 
It appears in two forms, traumatic and idiopathic. 
Traumatic hematuria is caused by injuries and 
strains. I have known cases caused by heavy hogs 
being loaded into cars; also from hogs getting 
down and being trampled on or squeezed by the 

others. 

Svmptoms: The urine is of a blood red color; 
if there is much hemorrhage it will be of a pink 
color; very soon after the urine has been passed 
the blood will separate into clots on the ground 
or floor; it is therefore easily distinguished from 
idiopathic hematuria, in which the blood does not 
separate into clot* In some cases the pig does not 
want to stand and has some difficulty in rising, and 
if made to walk will move off stiffly and may show 
signs of pain. The appetite will be more or less 
impaired; there is often high fever, fast, weak 
pulse, and elevated temperature. If inflammatioii 



DrSEAgfiS OF* THE HO(3. I93 

slioTild set in the secretions of urine will be scanty 
and the bowels are usually constipated. 

Treatment: Keep the animal as quiet as pos- 
sible. Give it one or two ounces epsom salts to 
clean out the bowels and cool the system; then give 
ten grains acetate of lead and two grains of opium 
at a dose, repeat in four hours with half the quan- 
titv and so on until the hemorrhaere ceases. If 
the discharge of blood should be abundant give the 
lead and opium at once. In this case the salts 
should not be given, as the lead and opium would 
prevent the salts from physicing. If the fever is 
high and the pulse full give five drops of tincture 
of aconite every tw^o hours. Boil flaxseed and 
make a tea of it and give it cold and as much as 
the pig will take. If the injury has not been too 
severe this treatment will cure it. 

IDIOPATHIC HEMATURIA. 

This form of the disease is observed under a 
great variety of circumstances. It seems to occur 
in certain localities and seasons. I have known it 
to break out among a herd of hogs that had been 
fed on diseased potatoes, and it has made its ap- 
pearance among hogs without any apparent cause. 

Symptoms: There is a copious discharge of a 
dark or red colored urine which does not separate 
into clots on the floor or ground; the animal moves 
stiffly and is weak in its hind legs, the pulse is fast 
and rather weak, the breathing is increased in 
frequencj^, and in the later stages of the disease is 
panting or spasmodic, the temperature will be up 



194 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

to 104 to 100, there is loss of appetite, and usually 
the auimal will be thirsty; as the disease ad- 
vances the pig will be unable to rise from w^eak- 
ness, the pulse will be very fast and weak, the 
breathing difficult and the animal will either die 
or be in a state of coma or convulsions. The nature 
of this disease is not well understood, but it is no 
doubt caused from faulty nutrition which does not 
supply sufficient material to keep up a healthy 
state of the blood, hence a breaking up of the red 
corpuscles and a passing off of the coloring matter 
by way of the kidneys. The post mortem examina- 
tions have revealed a pale flabby state of the mus- 
cles and a lack in the coagulating properties of the 
blood. From the post mortem appearance the in- 
dications for treatment would be a complete 
change of diet and medicine to stimulate and tone 
up all the tissues of the body. The food should be 
fine ground oats of good quality, flaxseed meal and 
milk, plenty of pure water and a comfortable 
house. Of the medicines, the tincture chloride of 
iron in dram doses three times a day will be the 
best Also two or three drops of the fluid extract 
of nux vomica three times a day. As a stimulant 
take two tablespoonfuls of whisky and dissolve 
three or four grains of quinine in it, give such a 
dose three times a day for a few days. Hydro- 
chloric acid in ten-drop doses three times a day is 
also good. If the bowels are constipated give one 
or two ounces of castor oil, but it is better to reg- 
ulate the bowels with the proper kind of food. 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 195 

ISCHURIA (SUPPRESSION OF URINE). 

This is not a common disease among pigs. Sup- 
pression or scanty passages of urine is a result of 
over-stimulation of the kidneys or feeding innu- 
tritions food; also such medicines as cantharides, 
turpentine, wood ashes, etc. In all kinds of fever 
there will be more or less suppression. When the 
urine is scanty it is irritant and is passed off in 
drops. It may also be caused by a plugging up 
of the kidneys by fat. If there is true suppression 
of urine, symptoms of blood poisoning will occur, 
"uraemia.^' In cases of sup]3ression the animal does 
not strain as it will do in retention, the urine pass- 
ing away in drops or in small quantities without 
any effort of the animal. If this continues for a 
day or two the animal will show symptoms of be- 
ing sick, and if not relieved, will soon die, either m 
a state of coma or convulsions. 

Treatment: In such cases find the cause, if pos- 
sible, and remove it. If this cannot be done (which 
in the pig is often difficult) treat the symptoms. 
One of the first things is to give a physic and in 
this way rid the system of some of the effete mat- 
ter which is sure to be present in the blood, and 
nothing is better for this purpose than sulphate of 
magnesia in doses of from one to two ounces. If 
there is high fever with a full pulse give three to 
five drops of tincture of aconite at a dose every four 
hours. If the pulse is weak and the heart irregu- 
lar, give from two to three drops of fluid extract 
of digitalis and a teaspoonful of spirits of nitrous 



196 Diseases of the hog. 

ether in a little water; repeat it every four hours 
until it takes effect. If there are no symptoms of 
inflammation, nitrate of potassium^ in ten to 
twenty grains at a dose, put into the drinking 
water will be found useful. If the pig is stiff and 
there is not much fever give one dram each of the 
fluid extract of buchu and spirits of nitrous ether 
at a dose in a little w^ater three times a day. The 
pig should have a good supply of cold linseed tea to 
drink, also milk, with a little lime water in it 

ATROPHY OF THE KIDNEYS. 

Atrophy of the kidneys, one or both, has been 
found in the pig. Usually when one kidney is 
atrophied the other becomes hypertrophied and it 
will perform the function of both. Gamgee men- 
tions a case in which one kidney was absent and 
its fibrous capsule alone remaining distended by a 
yellow fluid of a strong urinous odor, whereas its 
fellow was very much enlarged and the animal was 
in good health. 

HYPERTROPHY OF THE KIDNEYS. 

This is a very common thing in pigs which have 
been overfed from an early period. I have exam- 
ined pigs which have died from other diseases and 
found one or both kidneys very much enlarged. 
I have also found such the case in hogs that were 
killed, which appeared in perfect health and took 
on flesh very rapidly. Neither atrophy nor hyper- 
trophy can be diagnosed ; it is, therefore, when the 
pig has died from some other disease or has been 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. J 97 

killed that this derangement is found. Worms in 
the kidneys have been mentioned already under 
the head of worms. 

RUPTURE OF THE KIDNEY. 

I was called to see a fine sow which was verv 
sick. She had the following symptoms: The pig 
was lying down and it was with difficulty it got 
up, and when it did so it seemed to be in pain, the 
appetite completely lost, it would neither eat nor 
drink, the bowels were regular, it passed a small 
quantity of urine, which looked natural; the pulse 
was small and rather weak, the breathing was 
somewhat faster than normal when she moved, 
but when she was lying down it w^as nearly nat- 
ural. After examining the animal I came to the 
conclusion that the sow was a little off and that a 
dose of physic w^ould likely bring her out all right, 
but to my surprise the owner called to tell me that 
the sow had died that morning and as I was gath- 
ering material for this book I went and made an 
examination, and was greatly surprised when I 
found all the other organs of the body healthy ex- 
cept the left kidney, which had been ruptured and 
surrounded by a large quantity of coagulated 
blood. In fact, the animal no doubt bled to death, 
but strange to say that there was not any passed 
by way of the urine. The only special symptoms 
to be noted in this case were the small weak pulse 
and the pain evinced by the animal when it was 
raised up. 



198 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

CYSTITIS (INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER). 

This is a veiy rare disease in the pig. I have 
never seen a ease of it in the hog, although I have 
no doubt but that there have been some from in- 
juries, irritating urine, or from inflammation of 
the surrounding organs. The whole surface may 
be implicated, or it may only be a part. The neck 
is the part most commonly involved in the human 
being. 

Symptoms of this disease would be retention of 
urine, the animal will strain a good deal and the 
urine will be passed in drops or in small quanti- 
ties, and the animal will be very restless, as it will 
be suffering much pain; it will be stiff in its hind 
parts, there will be fever and swelling of the ab- 
domen, loss of appetite, but the pig may be thirsty, 
vomiting may occur. The case may get better in a 
few days. Gangrene may set in, in which case the 
pain w ill cease entirely before the close. A case 
of this kind may assume a chronic form, and the 
animal may be long affected with a purulent urine 
or a discharge of pus along with the urine. 

Treatment: Hot fomentations would be useful, 
but it could not be satisfactorily done with the 
pig. Calomel three grains, opium one grain, made 
into a pill and given three times a day, and large 
quantities of mucilaginous, cold drinks would be 
of great service in such a disease. If the animal is 
constipated, injections of warm water should be 
used. If the urine is acid, it should be neutralized 
by half dram doses of bicarbonate of soda three 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. I99 

or four times a day. If it becomes? ueeessarj to 
liave recourse to tlie catheter, an oj)eiiing will have 
to be made in the perineum and the urethra slit 
and a human catheter introduced and the urine 
removed, then wash the wound with glycerine one 
ounce, w^ater one ounce, carbolic acid five drops; 
this is usually all that is required, as the wound 
will heal readily. There is a chronic form of this 
disease which I have seen a few cases of. The 
symptoms of this form of the complaint are a con- 
stant desire to pass urine, which is of a whitish 
color and somew^hat turbid, owing to mucous and 
epithelial scales; in some cases it is very irritat- 
ing, causing the animal much pain. * The quantity 
of mucus is so great that it nearly blocks up the 
j)assage and requires considerable effort on the part 
of the pig to expel it. If the urine is collected and 
allowed to stand for a short time the mucus will 
separate from the urine, thus indicating the nature 
of the disease. In some cases ulceration takCvS 
place in the mucous membrane of the bladder; in 
this case there w^ill be some hemorrhage, which 
will give the urine a reddish color. If the disease 
is allowed to go on the animal loses flesh fast, the 
general strength gives way, first in the hind legs 
and then in all. In such a case it is better to de- 
stroy the pig. 

Treatment: In the early stages of the chronic 
form give a mild physic, such as one ounce sul- 
phate of magnesia or one or two ounces castor oil. 
Buchu is very useful, given in the form of the fluid 
extract in dram doses and sometimes combined 



200 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

with one or two drams of spirits of nitrous ether, 
diluted with a little water. Thirty drops of turj)en- 
tine given in some mucilaginous substance three 
times a day. is useful. Arbutin, in ten to twelve 
grains at a dose, three times a day, given in a des- 
sertspoonful of glycerine or cod liver oil, is of great 
service in some cases. The tincture chloride of 
iron in dram doses three times a day in a little 
syrup is especially useful on account of its action 
on the urinary organs. If there is any hemorrhage 
give from five to ten drops of the oil of erigerontis 
in syrup three or four times a day. Feed the pig 
on boiled flaxseed, oatmeal and milk. 

VESICAL RETENTION. 

Retention of urine in the bladder is caused by 
some obstruction to the passage or inability of 
the walls of the bladder to contract on its con- 
tents. Obstruction may arise from inflammation 
of the mucous membrane at the entrance of the 
urethra. It may arise from spasms of the neck of 
the bladder. Other causes are tumors, stones, ac- 
cumulations of mucus and stricture of the ure- 
thra. 

Symptoms: The animal is making constant in- 
effectual efforts to pass urine and is in great dis- 
tress. On examination of the back part of the ab- 
domen, just in front of the pubis, a tumor will be 
felt, forming a somewhat round, well-defined tu- 
mor, and it is sometimes visible. In very fat pigs it 
may be difficult to feel in this locality; in such a 
case the dulness upon percussion over the region 



DISEASP]S OF THE HOG. 201 

which it occupies, contrasted Avith the resonance 
of the surrounding space, will be sufficient to diag- 
nose it. In this affection the pig becomes feverish 
and restless, until at length a portion of the ure- 
thra or bladder gives way and the urine escapes 
into the peritoneum with fatal results. 

Treatment: It is not very easy to find the cause 
in the pig. Our first efforts will be to try to re- 
lieve the bladder of some of its contents by gentle 
pressure and the application of hot water to the 
back part of the abdomen and the perineum. If 
this should fail, then an opening must be made 
into the urethra by cutting through the perineum 
and a human catheter passed and the water drawn 
off. This will give the animal relief. Then find the 
cause, if possible. If from calculi or coagula in 
the urethra, remove them. If from inflammation 
of the neck, give a dose of epsom salts and bathe 
w ith warm w^ater. When spasms of the neck of the 
bladder are the cause of retention, give injection 
of warm water with a little opium in it, one dram 
of opium to the ounce of water; repeat this every 
two hours; apply chloroform or ether to the nos- 
trils until the animal is slightly under the influ- 
ence of it. If the retention should arise from want 
of power in the muscular coat, give stimulants and 
tonics, such as two drops of fluid extract of nux 
vomica and thirty to sixty drops of tincture of iron 
at a dose, in a little syrup, three times a day. 
INCONTINENCE OF URINE. (ENURESIS.) 

In this derangement the animal has lost the 
power of controlling the sphincter of the neck of 



202 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

the bladder, and the urine passes away involun- 
tarily. In some cases the bladder may be inflamed 
or greatly irritated, and the presence of even 
healthy urine could not be tolerated and would 
be passed off as soon as it reached the bladder. 
When it is caused from loss of power the animal 
will not be feverish or be suffering any pain, but 
should it be caused by inflammation or irritation 
there will be more or less fever and pain. 

Treatment: If from weakness and loss of power 
give two or three drops of fluid extract of nux 
vomica and from thirty to sixty drops of tincture 
chloride of iron at a dose in a little syrup three 
times a day. Ten to fifteen drops of turpentine 
at a dose in oil or syrup is often useful. Five drops 
tincture of cantharides at a dose in a little water 
three times a day has often good results. If it is 
caused by inflammation or irritation remove the 
cause, if possible, and give medicine required to re- 
duce the inflammation, such as one to two ounces 
epsom salts and two to three drops of fluid extract 
of belladonna three or four times a day, or after 
the physic has operated give one to two grains of 
opium and three to four grains of calomel three 
times a day, and encourage the animal to drink 
flaxseed tea, effusion of slippery elm or barley 
water. Feed on an oatmeal and milk diet. 

URINARY CALCULI. (GRAVEL.) 

This affection is very seldom met with in the pig 
on account of the great majority of hogs being sent 
to market before or by the time they are one year 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 203 

old. These deposits may form in the kidneys and 
pass along the ureters to the bladder and out 
through the urethra without causing any great 
inconvenience, but should they stick and block up 
the tubes they would cause very great trouble. 
The symptoms would be irritation and retention 
of urine; small stones may remain for a long time 
in the bladder without causing any very great dis- 
turbance; if such should be suspected the animal 
should be fed for the market. I have met with a 
few cases of prepucial calculi in the castrated hog, 
caused by the urine running over the anterior part 
of the prepuce, leaving a deposit of lithic acid 
gravel, causing irritation and swelling of the pre- 
puce (sheath), causing considerable disturbance to 
the animal, such as loss of flesh and some stiffness. 
The swelling of the prepuce and some stiffness 
attracts the attention of the owner and an exam- 
ination of the parts will reveal the nature of the 
trouble. 

Treatment: Cast the hog on its side and remove 
all the deposit with the fingers or a pair of forceps. 
When this is accomplished it will be found that the 
lining of the sheath is red and sore. After it has been 
well washed and dried, mix one ounce glycerine, 
one ounce water and thirty grains of tannic acid; 
a little of this should be applied once a day until 
the soreness and swelling have disappeared. 
After it is cleaned out and dressed the animal will 
be much relieved. 



204 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTER XXII. 
WOUNDS. 

These are of frequent occurrence in the pig, and 
if they are severe the^^ are difficult to heal, as it 
is impossible to keep the animal from rubbing the 
sore, thus irritating it. Bandages cannot be ap- 
plied with any satisfaction, as the animal will 
tear or bite them off. If the wound is caused by 
a sharp instrument and is cut lengthwise on the 
muscle it will be advantageous to sew it up. First 
clean the wound of all foreign substances, such as 
dirt, hair, or pieces of wood. If there is much hem- 
orrhage it should be stopped before stitching by 
applying cold w^ater to it. If the vessel is large it 
will require to be taken up and a ligature put on, 
then either use pins, if the wound is small, or cat- 
gut or silk thread if it is large, and pour over it a 
little of the following lotion: Acetate of lead half 
an ounce, carbolic acid half an ounce, water one 
quart If the wound is ragged and torn or cut 
crosswise on the muscle, there will be no advan- 
tage from stitching it, as the ragged portions have 
to slough and thus open the wound. If the muscle 
is cut across, its fibres will move every time that 
the animal moves the muscle, and thus prevent un- 
ion of the cut surface. 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 205 

Treatment: Great care requires to be taken 
not to irritate a fresh wound, either by washing 
or using strong medicines, as they will prevent the 
healing process and cause inflammation. Wash 
the wound by allowing tepid water to run over 
the injured surface until it is clean, then use ace- 
tate of lead half an ounce, carbolic acid half an 
ounce, water one quart; apply a little of this twice 
a day. If the wound should become unhealthy 
mix one dram chloride of zinc in half a pint of 
water and apply a little twice a day. For wounds 
which are superficial, such as a piece of skin pulled 
off, mix one ounce oxide of zinc with two ounces 
vaseline and apply a little once a day, or mix one 
ounce vaseline, one ounce water and three grains 
tannic acid and ,apply a little twice a day with a 
feather. For proud flesh use terchloride of anti- 
mony, and after it has been destroyed use any of 
the above lotions. For slight wounds in summer 
the application of a little tar will keep the flies 
off and also dirt, and assist the healing process. 
Such strong medicines as turpentine should not 
be used on a fresh wound. To destroy maggots 
mix half an ounce of carbolic acid in one ounce 
glycerine and apply with a feather. Deep or punc- 
tured wounds should be examined with a probe to 
find the depth and direction, and at the same time 
to feel if there is any foreign body in them. Punc- 
tured wounds are the most dangerous of all to 
prevent inflammation and mortification. I have 
known cases of this kind to cause death, which a 
little liniment would have prevented 



206 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

Treatment of Punctured Wounds: Mix carbolic 
acid tAYO drams, water six ounces, dip a strip of 
soft muslin and press it into the wound witli a 
probe, then draw it out and put in a fresh one; 
let this stop in for a few hours, then draw it out 
and put in a fresh one; do this at least three times 
a day until matter forms, then all danger is past. 
The reason I use the strip of muslin dipped in this 
strong carbolic solution is so that it will be sure 
to reach the bottom of the wound, acting as a dis- 
infectant, preventing inflammation and blood poi- 
soning. When matter forms, clean it out with a 
syringe and inject a little of the above lotion once 
a day. 

INJURIES. 

Broken bone in the pig will heal as fast as in 
any other animal, but it is impossible to confine 
the animal for treatment. In case of simple frac- 
ture it will usually get well itself, but where the 
bone is splintered and the flesh lacerated, it is best 
to destroy the animal. The injury sometimes only 
bruises the flesh, and it will right itself. In other 
cases there will be effusion of serum under the 
skin, causing a considerable soft, puffy swelling. 
This will have to be opened and the fluid pressed 
out and a little of the chloride of zinc lotion in- 
jected once a day for a few days. If this is not done 
the sack will fill up again. 

The part may be bruised to such an extent that 
an abscess may form; if so, as soon as it becomes 
soft open it in the most prominent part, and after 



Diseases of the hog. 207 

the pus has escaped wash it out with warm water 
and inject a little of the following twice a day: 
Acetate of lead half an ounce, carbolic acid two 
drams, water one pint 

Ulcers and fungous growths are found on the 
body of the pig. The ulcers should be treated by 
applying nitrate of silver to them to destroy the 
unhealthy surface, then use any of the healing 
lotions mentioned for wounds. Fungous growths 
appear about the legs and abdomen and at times 
on other parts of the body. They are usually very 
foul smelling and red or of a dark color, usually 
covered with a dark colored scab. They bleed very 
easily and therefore sometimes receive the name 
of "bleeding fungus.'' 

Treatment: If there is any neck to the fungus 
tie a small cord tight around it, and if it does not 
slough off in a week tie on another; when it does 
slough off, apply a little terchloride of antimony 
to it to destroy the roots, then apply a little of the 
following: Oxide of zinc one ounce, vaseline two 
ounces. If a cord cannot be lied on scrape off the 
scab and apply a little terchloride of antimony to 
it every second day until it is lower than the sur- 
rounding parts, then use a little of the oxide of 
zinc ointment. All unhealthy sores should be 
dressed once or twice with the antimony. This 
will bring a healthy action to the part 



208 DISEASES O^ THE HOCJ. 



CHAPTER XXIIL 
DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 

The pig is not subject to diseases of these organs 
for the same reasons that have been mentioned 
before, that they are brought to maturity and 
the greater number of them sold by the time they 
are two years old or less. 

Difficult Parturition. — This is sometimes met 
with in the sow, and on account of the passage be- 
ing too small to admit the hand, in the majority of 
sows, it is sometimes with great difficulty that we 
can relieve them. If a sow has been straining for 
some time and making no progress, it will be nec- 
essary to examine it to find the cause. Causes: The 
parts may not be properly dilated, or the passage 
may be too small to allow the foetus to pass, or 
the parts may not be strong enough to expel the 
foetus. In other cases several may be expelled and 
one or more seem to block up the passage. Every 
farmer and stock breeder should have a pair of 
parturition forceps for the pig. They can be ob- 
tained from Frank Wagner & Co., manufacturers 
of revolving and obstetrical instruments, Mans- 
field, Ohio. These instruments are the best in the 
market at the present time. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



209 



Figure 3. Insert and then open a little, any of our string 
instruments and you have a repeller that will never slip nor 
will it mutilate as do the metal repellers now in use. 




Forceps No. 3 and 4, length about 20 inches. These for- 
ceps are designed for pigs and lambs, in many places where 
malposition has taken place, both numbers are needed, but no 
case has ever been found so difficult that these forceps would 
not effect speedy deliverance. They are entirely and easily 
handled from the outside. 



210 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

The forceps are useful for two purposes: To 
dilate the parts by smearing it with fluid extract 
of belladonna, then introducing it into the passage, 
and by opening and closing the forceps, and the 
belladonna acting on the parts, dilation sometimes 
takes place rapidly. When this is accomplished 
there will be no further trouble. If it is caused by 
the foetus being too large, warm the forceps and 
rub on a little lard, and introduce them and get a 
hold of the foetus, and by gentle traction you will 
be able to remove it. T have removed a number in 
this way and they lived to grow into fine pigs. The 
foetus of the pig is not like the larger animals; 
their legs are not much hindrance. If it is caused 
from want of strength of the walls of the uterus to 
expel its contents, give the sow from one to two 
drams of the fluid extract ergot of rye in a little 
water every half hour until you have the desired 
result In cases v/here the forceps have been used 
it is always safe to wash out the parts with tincture 
of opium one drachm, carbolic acid thirty drops, 
water one pint. Inject warm water first to clean it 
out, then inject the lotion. This will act as a sooth- 
ing antiseptic and will greatly soothe the irritated 
parts. If there should be any laceration of the 
parts they should be dressed with a little of the 
above lotion once or twice a day. 

INVERSION OF THE UTERUS. 

This sometimes takes place in the sow, and when 
it does the parts should be well washed and all 
particles of dirt removed, then bathe it for ten 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



211 



v:-':::'M 



ffmmiimmmimKfmifii^^ 




^i 



Plate No. 4. 

This diagram shows the manner of inserting our blade 
forceps No. 3. All other forceps must be inserted open with 
one blade at each side of the head of the young, a thing often 
very diflficult if not impossible when the head is wedged in the 
pelvis. There is, however, always room at the top of the 
head, where our long, neat and perfectly shaped blades may 
be easily inserted. The blades are then revolved to the sides 
of the head, when owing to the joint, each blade adjusts 
itself flatly on the head, allowing the severest pull without 
injury to the young. 



212 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

minutes with acetate of lead two drams, tincture 
of opium two drams, water one pint Then take a 
piece of soft muslin and fold it into several thick- 
nesses and put it over the ends of 3^our four fingers, 
which should be made into the form of a cone, and 
by gentle pressure on its center it can be pressed 
into its place. Remember it is inverted and the pres- 
sure must be on its center so that it will turn in. 
After this has been accomplished take a strong pin 
and pass it through from side to side of the passage, 
then tie a piece of string in the form of the figure 
eight; that will keep the part closed and prevent 
the uterus from being pressed out again. The pin 
is to be left in for a few^ days, when it can be drawn 
out, leaving no sore. If the sow is very restless she 
should be given a dose or two of opium, two grains 
at a dose. Feed her on oatmeal and milk food for 
a few days. If the sow does not do well after such 
cases, give her twenty drops tincture chloride of 
iron, and a teaspoonful each of tincture of ginger 
and gentian at a dose, in a little syrup two or three 
times a day for a week. 

MAMMITIS. (INFLAfinATION OF THE UDDER.) 

This is not a common disease in the sow^, but it 
does take place at times. 

Causes: Injuries to the udder; also, the over- 
accumulation of milk, and chills. 

Symptoms: The udder is swollen and hard. If 
the skin is white it will be red and ver}^ tender to 
the touch. When this takes place in the sow it is 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



213 



fWP-fsu^mM-m 



mmm^mfim^m^iffstiimff^mimmmmmm^^ 



mmmmfimmm 




Plate No. 5. 



Shows the manner of adjusting our invaluable string car- 
rying forceps No. 4. In numerous cases the pig is found set- 
tled so low behind the pelvis that old hinge forceps will not 
touch it. In such cases this is the only instrument that will 
reach the pig, and this only in the following way : One arm 
is held stationary while the other long and properly curved 
arm is run far back and down until it can be brought under 
the pig, drawing the cord around in a loop, when the pig can 
be raised. 



214 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

usually sick, with considerable fever, loss of appe- 
tite and constipated bowels. 

Treatment: Draw off as much milk as possible, 
although this is no very easy matter in the sow; 
the inflammation causes the milk to coagulate and 
it separates into curd and whey. If she has young 
pigs allow them to suck; if not, draw off as much 
as possible with the fingers. Foment the parts well 
with hot water, then use acetate of lead half an 
ounce, tincture of arnica two ounces, water one 
quart. Bathe three times daily with hot water and 
apply the lotion after each bathing. Give from one 
to two ounces of epsom salts; follow this by giving 
ten grains of nitrate of potassium in a little water 
three times a day. If matter should form, which 
is known by the part becoming soft and pitting 
with the fingers, either open it with the knife or let 
it break of its own accord. When it breaks inject 
water into it to clean it out, then inject carbolic acid 
one dram, water half a pint. Clean the parts out 
twice a day with a little of this. If the parts be- 
come hard or caked, rub on iodine one dram, vase- 
line one ounce. Do this twice a week until the part 
becomes soft or the hardness disappears; also give 
from eight to ten grains of iodide of potassium in 
a little water twice a day for a week. If any of it 
should become mortified, which can be easily seen 
by its bluish or black appearance, it will have to 
be removed with the knife and the part dressed 
with a little peroxide of hydrogen, one part to four 
of soft water, twice a day; also, give twenty to 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



215 






Koeim 










Plate No. 6. 



This cut shows how our No. 4 can be used in common 
cases where the head is up, in place of the blade forceps, No. 3. 



216 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

thirty drops of tincture chloride of iron in a spoon- 
ful of svr up -three times a day. 

SORE TEATS. 

Occasionally the teats of the sow become in- 
flamed and are red, swollen and sore, and she does 
not want the young ones to touch her. This usual- 
ly makes matters worse, as the udder at the base of 
the teats becomes involved on account of the ac- 
cumulation of milk. This trouble is caused hj the 
teats coming in contact with dirt mixed with urine, 
which irritates the skin, causing it to crack and 
inflame. Mud and water are not likely to do this. 
It is also caused by the sow traveling through 
poisonous weeds when they are wet with dew or 
rain. To avoid this trouble keep the sty of the 
sow clean, and if possible, have all obnoxious weeds 
removed from the pasture where nursing sows are 
kept. 

Treatment: Bathe the parts well three times a 
day with acetate of lead half an ounce, water one 
quart, then rub over the affected parts after bath- 
ing, glycerine two ounces, tannic acid twenty 
grains, water four ounces; shake up well before 
using. If the animal is feverish, give her one to 
two ounces epsom salts, dissolved in half a pint of 
water; also give ten grains of nitrate of potassium 
in the food or drinking water two or three times a 
day. This derangement is sometimes caused by 
the young pigs having sore mouths. If such is the 
case, sponge the mouth three times a day with a 
lotion made by putting a teaspoonful of boric acid 
in a teacupful of soft water. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



217 




Plate No. 7. 



The above cut shows how to manage very difficult cases, 
in which the pig is so large that no other instruments, and 
perhaps neither one of our own, will give deliverance. In 
such cases we have never failed when using both forceps, the 
string carrier to draw and the blades to work and lessen the 
head. 



218 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

ORCHITIS (INFLAMMATION OF THE TESTICLES). 

This disease is caused by injuries to the part, 
such as blows, bites from other pigs, wounds pene- 
trating the testicle. It is also caused by feeding 
too much stimulating food in hot weather, or medi- 
cines that stimulate the generative system,, such as 
cantharides, rue, tansy, demeana. 

Symptoms: Swelling of the part, which is hot 
and tender to the touch, the swelling often extend- 
ing dow^n the legs; the animal suffers pain when 
made to move. This disease can be easily distin- 
guished from hydrocele (water in the pouch) by the 
swelling being hard and hot and very tender, while 
in hydrocele it is soft and will fluctuate under the 
fingers and is not painful to the touch. 

Treatment: Give the pig two ounces epsom 
salts; follow this by giving ten grains of nitrate of 
potassium three times a day in a little water. If 
the appetite is good, put it in its food. Bathe the 
part three or four times daily with hot water 
and after each bathing use a little of the following: 
Acetate of lead half an ounce, tincture of arnica 
two ounces, w^ater one quart If matter should 
form, which can be known by the part becoming 
soft and pitting w^ith the finger, then open it with 
the knife, squeeze out the matter and wash it out 
with water, then inject a little of the following: 
Peroxide of hydrogen one ounce, water four 
ounces. Do this twice a day to heal it. If it will 
not heal it will be necessary to castrate the ani- 
mal. 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. £19 

HYDROCELE (WATER IN THE SCROTUM.) 

This derangement is sometimes the result of 
inflammation of the scrotum or by the walls of the 
scrotum being bruised. 

Symptoms: The scrotum is swollen and will 
fluctuate under the fingers, and the testicles can 
be felt floating in the water. 

Treatment: If it is not interfering with the ani- 
mal's health and not increasing in size it will be 
better left alone. Astringent medicines may be 
tried, such as tannic acid, twenty grains to the 
ounce of water. The i3roper treatment is to draw 
off the fluid with a hypodermic syringe, the nozzle 
of which is passed through a solution of carbolic 
acid. But this should be done only by a veteri- 
narian. . 

STERILITY. 

This derangement happens more commonly in 
the Avell bred animal, especially in those that are 
"forced'' by overstim ulating food. The animal gets 
into such a plethoric state that it sometimes blocks 
up the fine tubes connected with the organs of gen- 
eration. There are several other distinct causes: 
Disordered ovaries, obstructions to the fallopian 
tubes, a morbid condition of the uterus, hardening 
of the neck of the uterus. In the pig, on account of 
not being able to make an examination by tlie 
hand, it is very difficult to find the cause, and if we 
rlid it would likely be impossible to remove it. 
Sows should be kept in good growing condition, 
but avoid having them overfat. If the animal takes 



220 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

on fat very easily and will not breed give her two 
ounces epsom salts dissolved in half a pint of cold 
water at one dose; follow this by giving ten grains 
of iodide of potassinm twice a day in her food for 
two weeks. By this treatment we may succeed in 
absorbing materials which have blocked up some 
of the tubes. If the animal is weak and in' poor 
condition give good food and twenty to fort}^ drops 
of the tincture chloride of iron twice a day in the 
food. , 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 221 



CHAPTER XXIV. 
HOG CHOLERA AND SWINE PLAQUE. 

PTog cholera and swine plague are both very fatal 
diseases, destroying great numbers of hogs ^^early, 
especially in the corn-growing States. It attacks 
pigs at all ages, but shoats seem to be more liable 
to it than older ones; the older ones have more 
power of resisting the virus than the younger ones. 
There is no doubt but that the disease is the result 
of a bacteria, but why this bacteria should make its 
appearance is not easily understood. In the sev- 
eral outbreaks which I have studied it has acted 
very peculiarly; as an illustration — it first made 
its appearance on the farm of a Mr. A., destroying 
nearly all his hogs, young and old; Mr. A.'s pigs 
were fine bred and well kept in the way of cleanli- 
ness, pure water, good pasture, food, principally 
corn in the ear; the pigs were all fat. Their neigh- 
bors on all sides had herds of hogs, some well bred, 
others not; some were allowed to wallow in stag- 
nant pools, others kept clean; none of these took 
the disease. Messrs. B., C. and D., living some three 
miles distant, lost very heavily from this disease. 
I have known cases w^here a man kept only two or 
three hogs on his place and the disease would carry 



222 msEASKs OF THE HOG. 

them all off. It is generall}^ admitted that large 
herds of animals kept together are more liable to 
disease than when onl}'^ a few are kept in the same 
place, and I think there is some truth in it, but it 
does not hold good in hog cholera, as it will make 
its appearance in all sorts and conditions of hogs 
(the "land pike'' excepted). The reason, no doubt, 
why it does not usuall}^ kill all in a herd is that 
some have more resisting power or that they in 
some way become immune to the action of the bac- 
teria. Swine plague is just as fatal a disease as 
hog cholera and both may be present in the same 
outbreak. The symptoms of the disease are nearly 
the same and it is only by the use of the microscope 
that the difference can be ascertained (figs. 18 and 
19); but it is of little importance to the swine grow- 
er whether it is hog cholera or swine plague, as the 
management of both diseases are alike. It is said 
that hogs which have resisted an attack are im- 
mune from future attacks; this may be so in some 
cases, but not in all, as I have known hogs in a 
herd of swine attacked with hog cholera, a few of 
w^hich escaped but were attacked the following 
year and died. Another peculiarity of hog cholera 
and swine plague is that some j^ears it is much 
more virulent than others, sometimes destro3dng 
ninety to one hundred per cent; at others it may 
not amount to more than twenty to thirty per cent 
The first of the outbreak is always the most se- 
vere; towards the end the' majority attacked re- 
cover. 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 223 

Symptoms: The sudden death of one or more 
hogs calls the attention of the swine grower to the 
fact that something serious is the matter with his 
pigs (alhough other diseases may have caused 
this). In the early stages of the disease the pig is 
noticed to be dull, will neither seek food nor water; 
it likes to hide itself, lies down most of the time, 
its head is low and the ears will be lopped; often 
the signs of pain will be well marked by the con- 
stant movements of some parts of its body, or the 
first symptoms may be cough with a little dis- 
charge from the eyes and nose, the exudation from 
the lids of the eyes is of a gummy nature, which 
sometimes glues the edges of the lids togther so 
firmly that the animal cannot open them; at this 
stage of the disease the appetite may not be in the 
least impaired. I have made post mortem exami- 
nations in this form of the disease and, notwith- 
standing the animal having a good appetite, I have 
found well marked ulcer tufts in the large intes- 
tine. It lies mostly on its breast and abdomen and 
may remain in the position for hours if not dis- 
turbed. In some cases there will be violent vomit- 
ing and the brain becomes affected and the animal 
may become frantic, or it may lie in an unconscious 
state until it dies. In the early stages of the dis- 
ease the feces are normal, but very soon a very 
foetid, black or dark diarrhea sets in. The pulse 
rises to one hundred to one hundred and twenty- 
five per minute, and the heart beats are barely 
perceptible. There is a peculiar spasmodic breath- 
ing in all cases where the lungs become congested. 



224 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

There is a marked weakness of the hind legs; the 
animal staggers, its legs crossing each other, but 
differs from paralysis in its being able to move 
them until the last. Some time before death there 
are patches on the skin of a bluish or purplish 
color, especially on the inside of hind legs. If 
these patches are pressed they will become pale, 
which does not occur in other diseases where the 
skin becomes discolored, such as in erysipelas. 
The temperature of the bod}' is at first increased, 
but soon falls below normal, and I have seen in a 
few cases, dark blood oozing through the skin. In 
a number of cases the animal dies in from three to 
six hours, others live for several days. Although 
an animal may die in from three to six hours from 
the time it is first noticed to be sick, there is no 
doubt but what the animal has been ailing more or 
less for several days before it is actually taken 
down sick. I have made post-mortem examinations 
of pigs, which, to all appearance, seemed well; but 
on opening them, all the characteristics of the dis- 
ease were present in an undeveloped form. It is 
ncessary to make a post-mortem of the first hog 
that dies to enable us to form a correct opinion as 
to the nature of the disease. 

Post-mortem appearance : On removing the skin 
there is usually found an accumulation of serum 
often mixed with blood, causing red or black spots; 
this is the result of the plugging and rupture of 
small blood vessels. I have seen some cases which 
resembled that which is produced when a hog has 
been roughly handled on being shipped. In most 



DISEASES OF THE HOG. 225 

cases of hog cholera all the organs of the body are 
more or less red spotted, caused by hemorrhage of 
a greater or less extent. The extravasation of blood 
is found most abundant in the lymphatic glands 
and the serous membrane of the chest and abdo- 
men. The cases vary very much, sometimes the in- 
testines, both outside and inside, the surface of the 
lungs, liver, heart and kidneys will be covered with 
an exudation of blood. On the internal surface of 
the large intestines in nearly all cases of hog chol- 
era and swine plague there will be found a num- 
ber of tufts which receive the name of ulcers; they 
are elevations of a dirty gray or sometimes a yel- 
lowish gray; they are more or less hard or tough 
when cut with the knife; their surface is tufty, 
somewhat like the top of a wart on the human 
hand after it has been soaked in water for a while; 
this surface is covered with a yellowish substance, 
which is easily removed by scraping off with a 
knife. These growths extend in some cases through 
the intestine. In most cases the lining of the in- 
testine and its walls are black in the vicinity of the 
growths. These tufts may be single or a number 
of them may be attached to each other, covering 
a surface of from one to three inches in length; 
they are usually found in the cecum, upper half of 
the colon and on the ileo-cecal valve. Very often 
the small intestine is found more or less inflamed 
and the glands enlarged; in some cases the spleen 
is enlarged; the lungs are usually more or less im- 
plicated, especially is this the case in swine plague. 
I have found some cases of swine plague in which 



226 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 

there was pleurisy with hydrothorax to a consider- 
able extent, also considerable effusion of fluid in 
the abdominal cavity. There are often indications 
of heart derangement, such as effusions of fluid and 
blood clots, and in chronic cases enlargement of 
the walls of the heart. In swine plague the liver 
is often found in a very deranged condition, of a 
bluish gray color, soft and falling to pieces when 
handled, especially in chronic cases. Hog cholera 
has usually more intestinal lesions, and swine 
plague more lung and liver affections. The hog 
cholera germs are very vigorous and more hardy 
than those of swine plague. They are capable of 
multiplying and living for a long time in water, 
ponds and streams; they may live in the earth and 
rubbish for three months or more. Swine plague 
germs, on the other hand, are much more delicate 
and easily destroyed. In order that they will mul- 
tiply and grow the temperature must be more con- 
stant and the surrounding media more favorable 
than is required for the germs of hog cholera. It 
is said that the swine plague germs are widely dis- 
tributed in nature and probably present in all 
herds of swine, but they are not deadly to these ani- 
mals except when their virulence has been in- 
creased or the resistance of the animals dimin- 
ished by some unusual conditions. The hog chol- 
era germs, on the contrary, are not usually present 
and must be introduced from infected herds before 
the disease can be developed. This may or may not 
be true, as it is impossible to find out the cause of 
the beginning or end of a contagious disease. If it 



mmABm of tub eog. 227 

^vere possible, in all likelihood, we would have the 
key to prevent the outbreaks of the disease, which 
we certainly have not at the present time. Hog 



^M 


^■1 




^^^M 


^^H^^ ' 


'^^HH^^H^H 


^H 




^'^^ii^l^^^^^^H 


^^^HpFf-'. 


' 


»^-^^H 




«^^^^H 


1 






1 






^H': 




4'fl^a^l 


mk 






1 







Figure 18. Hog Cholera. 

Photograph by Dr. T. J. Burrill, with Zeiss apochromatic 
2 mm. objective and number 8 ocular ; XIOOO. 

cholera germs are slightly larger and more elon- 
gated than those of swine plague; they are pro- 
vided with flagella or long thread-like appendages, 
which enable them to move rapidly in liquids; 
while the swine plague germs (Fig. 19) have no 
such organs and are unable to move except as they 
are carried by the liquid in which they float. 



^2S DISEASES OP THE HOGf. 

Sanitary Measures: Wlien hog cholera breaks 
out in a neighborhood it will be wise not to fre- 
quent the place in case of carr^ ing the disease, but 
to scatter new lime over the parts where your hogs 
frequent most and to sprinkle their sleeping places 
with a solution of crude carbolic acid, strength one 




Figure 19. Swine Plague. 

Photograph by Dr. T. J. Burrill, with Zeiss apochromatic 
2mm. objective and number 8 ocular ; X800. 

ounce to the quart of water. Care should be taken 
in the purchase of hogs to see that they have good, 
healthy constitutions and that hog cholera has not 
prevailed for some time in the neighborhood Avhere 
the pigs were raised. I think the best prevention 
is to have strong, healthy hogs. Eead the intro- 
duction to be found on the first page of this book. 
All pigs which die of cholera or swine plague 



DISEASES OP THE HOG. 229 

should be buried deep and the body covered with 
slacked lime before being covered with the earthy 
and the part where the sick animal was before and 
where it died sprinkled with the carbolic lotion 
above mentioned. When the disease is in the 
neighborhood and before it makes its appearance 
or after it has done so, each pig should have ten 
drops of strong nitro-hydrochloric acid in its food 
twice a day for a week. It is wise when the dis- 
ease breaks out on tlie farm to separate all the well 
ones some distance from the affected ones and put 
them under the acid treatment. I have seen ex- 
cellent results from this. 

Treatment: A great many hogs can be cured of 
this disease if only properly treated, and there is 
no doubt that in many cases it would not pay U) 
undertake it ; but when a man has a few or a num- 
ber of valuable hogs it would pay to have them 
treated. The pigs should be put into a comfortable 
well ventilated place free from draughts, and in 
the early stage each should get two ounces of cas- 
tor oil; this should be followed by giving ten drops 
of nitro-hydrochloric acid well diluted with water 
three times a day; also give half an ounce of spirits 
of turpentine in a little sweet oil once a day; con- 
tinue this for three or four days, then give four 
grains of quinine dissolved in two tablespoonfuls 
of good whisky, with the same quantity of cold 
water at a dose, three times a day for four or five 
days if necessary. This treatment I followed up 
last year with excellent results. Some very valu- 
able sows, which were not able to rise, recovered 



236 SiSfiASJES of TH^ HOG. 

by the use of the quinine and whisky. As soon ea^ 
the animal is able to eat feed on milk and eggs, 
boiled flaxseed, oatmeal, etc. The nitro-hydro- 
cliloric acid is one of the best blood purifiers that 
we possess; the turpentine acts as a local disin- 
fectant and stimulant as well as a healer to the in- 
testine; the quinine and whisk}^ are tonic and stim- 
ulant, and may in some way stop the development 
of the bacteria. To be successful it must be well 
done. 



